Plans for a free wireless internet network covering Dunedin's Octagon have won the support of most city councillors.
The proposal was yesterday put to the council's economic development committee and approved with overwhelming support, with only Cr Bill Acklin voting against it due to concerns about the cost.
If approved at the next full Dunedin City Council meeting on August 17, four wireless repeaters would be positioned to cover the Octagon's businesses, civic buildings and open spaces, initially as a 12-month trial.
It was expected to cost $8500 to install the network, and between $700 and $1000 each month to provide a service for up to 150 simultaneous users.
There was also room to expand the network to include parts of George, Princes and lower Stuart Sts, and replicate it in other areas, such as St Clair Esplanade, Middlemarch or Waikouaiti.
Most councillors spoke favourably about the initiative, with Cr Dave Cull saying it would provide an important "point of difference" for the city.
"I see it as defacto transport and communication infrastructure.
"This is just a 21st century version."
However, Cr Acklin questioned why ratepayers should fund the system.
"We are asking ratepayers to essentially pay our cellphone bill. There's a small group of people that would benefit from this, as a cost to the whole city," he said.
Council customer services general manager Grant Strang said the initiative would cater for a mixture of tourists, business people, students and other residents in the Octagon.
There would be data limits, but not restrictions on websites, and monthly operating costs could be capped to ensure estimated costs were not exceeded during the trial, he said.
Users would also be directed to the council's website in the first instance, helping promote the council's online services, and Dunedin would benefit from media exposure as a technology-savvy city, he believed.
There were believed to be up to 50 Wi-Fi networks already operated by businesses in the city, most of them private and a few subscription-based, including in some cafes.
The council's initiative would be the first free, council-funded central city service in New Zealand, but following in the footsteps of Lawrence, which launched a free service covering Ross Pl last year.
Council business development adviser Graham Strong said free Wi-Fi would encourage those working in the city's growing high-tech sector to escape their offices and network in the Octagon.
If it proved successful, the council would also be in a stronger position to seek a contribution from businesses towards future costs, Mr Strong said.
He believed the network was essential "infrastructure of the future".
"It's very much like a highway between Dunedin and Christchurch - everyone expects it to be there," he said.
Businesses in the Octagon would be consulted prior to the trial.
