Travellers wandering around central Wellington, NZ’s capital city, can now get free wi-fi internet access (cbdfree.co.nz) for smartphones and computers.
Travellers usually rely on finding free hotspots at fast-food chains and coffee shops but in Wellington they can pick up free access almost anywhere in the city centre. ”Free wi-fi is now available in outdoor areas from the stadium to the Embassy cinema, encompassing the waterfront, the Golden Mile and Cuba Street,” says the Wellington City Council, which has partnered with an NZ bank to provide the service.
With studies showing that
rapidly increasing numbers of travel searches are being carried out on mobile devices, it’s a smart move for tourism, as well as benefiting local businesses and residents.
Many cities across the world have started offering wi-fi, although they oftenuse a series of “hotspots” rather than having broad access. Some limit the amount of time visitors can access the network and some limit downloads to certain types of information, such as tours and attractions. Wellington users will get access for 30 minutes at a time, after which they can log in again.
This article is an excerpt from Jane E. Fraser’s weekly travel column in The Sun Herald, Sydney.
