First phase free public Wi Fi in time for Christmas Market

Richard Wyatt

Work to install free public Wi Fi access across Bath city centre is under way as part of a drive to boost the resident and visitor experience – giving everyone the chance to log on, download and stream wherever they are.

At present small black Wi Fi boxes are being fitted to street furniture, street lights and signage.

It is hoped that people will be able to use the first phase in time for the city’s popular Christmas Market.

Contractors working for Bath & North East Somerset Council are installing the system which the council is keen to stress is for the Wi Fi network and not for a 5G mobile phone network.

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Cllr Tim Ball

Councillor Tim Ball, cabinet member for Planning, Housing and Economic Development, said: “The first phase of this work, to give residents and visitors access to free public Wi Fi wherever they are in the city centre, is well under way. It is great news that we are helping people connect as part of our programme to support the on-going vibrancy of our city centre.

“I want to be clear, however, that the infrastructure which is going in, is for the council’s public free access Wi Fi and not part of any 5G roll out. These access points cannot be upgraded to 5G.”

Funding for the Wi Fi programme has come from the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership through the Local Growth Fund, administered by the West of England Combined Authority.

Councillor Ball added: “The ultimate aim is to develop a useful app for residents and visitors to use so they can quickly log on and find out for free useful information, city events, offers, and news to both help business and connect people.”

Published by Richard Wyatt

Freelance Journalist, broadcaster, columnist and local historian. Director of Bath Newseum. Married and lives in Bath. Interested in local history, architecture and visual display in museums and urban spaces.

2 Comments

  1. The ‘resident experience’ in central Bath would be greatly improved not so much by public wi-fi but by a severe reduction in the size and duration of the Christmas market, which is now – I suggest – deeply unpopular.

  2. I can’t find any plans for the coverage – just the use of the words ‘city’ and then ‘city centre’. As a resident on Camden Road, can I look forward to cancelling my Home Broadband contract soon?

    Friend of Ebinizer Scrooge, but no ‘bah humbug’ here.

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