Victoria has recently launched what it claims to be the country’s largest and fastest free WiFi network across the Melbourne CBD. The Septmeber 29th launch allows citizens and tourists to access free, high speed WiFi at all CBD train stations as well as Bourke Street Mall, Queen Victoria Markets and the South Wharf Promenade. The service will appear as ‘VicFreeWifi’ on devices and will not require any personal login nor contain any pop-up advertising.
The launch is part of the Victorian Government’s $11 million Victoria Free WiFi pilot which will see more access points activated in the coming months with the full network to be completed by the end of the year. The Free WiFi pilot has also been running in Bendigo and Ballarat since December 2015 and has recorded 1 million sessions in both cities during its 9 months of operation.
Once the VicFreeWifi network has been completed it will be the largest of its kind in Australia covering an area of 600,000 square metres across 3 cities. Visitors on the network will have access to up to 250MB per device per day. The Victorian Government hopes that the service will be equal to what is available in other major cities including New York, London and San Francisco.
“This is just another reason why Victoria is the country's home of innovation and technology — we really do have the best of everything, not only in Melbourne but our regional cities as well," said Philip Dalidakis, the Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade.
The pilot is managed by telecom company TPG and will run for 5 years. For an map of the active access points visit www.vic.gov.au/wifi.
