News Release

Wednesday 22 May 2013

Thousands take up free WIFI on offer in Rotorua CBD

ROTORUA 22.05.13: Rotorua District Council (RDC)’s newly implemented programme of free WiFi within the CBD is proving a big hit, with thousands of people already taking advantage of the service.

The council is working in partnership with local company Kapua Networks Ltd to provide the service to the inner city.

Free WiFi in the CBD was set up and tested early in the year and has been embraced by users of mobile devices ever since. Monitoring records reveal that last month alone (April) 17,950 visitors and residents logged on to the service.

The free WiFi project is part of a package of measures to help revitalise the downtown area and stimulate growth in the local economy.

RDC economic projects manager Nick Dallimore said the provision of free WIFI was a leap into embracing 21st century state-of-the-art technology.

“Visitors, whether on holiday, business or in town for a conference, as well as local residents, now have free and instant access to the web from their laptops, tablets and smart phones, in most public places in the central city.

“Already this project has far exceeded our expectations in terms of our forecasts of potential users. We anticipate that the number of people accessing the service will continue to grow substantially as people become more aware that Rotorua offers free WiFi. ”

Mr Dallimore said the provision of a free public WIFI service was an integral part of the council's Urban Design Framework programme aimed at upgrading the CBD, and the city’s recently developed Sustainable Economic Growth Strategy.

[ENDS]

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