A host of buildings in Manchester will receive free Wi-Fi over the next two years as the city goes about spending its ultra-fast internet grant.
Last year, Manchester was named as one of the ten UK cities to receive £10.74 million for the installation of speedy broadband and Wi-Fi. The money comes from the government’s Urban Broadband Fund, which works on the basis that improving internet services can drive growth for the economy.
Manchestereveningnews.co.uk says £400,000 of the funding package will be used to install free Wi-Fi in over 130 public buildings across the city by 2015. Libraries, leisure centres and adult education sites are among the types of facilities that could benefit from these services.
Manchester Science Park will receive £2.95 million to fund faster broadband and encourage new research, while £3.65 million will be used to fund the installation of ultra fast internet at over 2,000 small and medium-sized business.
Meanwhile commuters will be able to surf the web for free on Manchester’s Metrolink train service and all Metroshuttle buses.
Councillor Andrew Fender, chairman of the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, said providing free Wi-Fi was integral to improving the public transport experience around Manchester.
He told prolificnorth.co.uk: “This is great news for Metrolink and Metroshuttle passengers, who will be able to make even better use of their travel time by using the internet for free.”
