Purple will roll the technology out across gyms, libraries, commercial buildings and public realms.
Hundreds of hotspots will go live across Newcastle as part of the network. here can be accessed through the Purple ConneX App, allowing citizens to easily connect from any participating location.
The system will not require repeated logins, allowing users to move freely through the city and stay logged on, alleviating some access frustrations and security concerns associated with less advanced public wifi networks.
‘Even with near-universal broadband coverage, not everyone can afford reliable access on the go,’ said councillor Paul Frew, Newcastle City Council Resources and Performance cabinet member. ‘We’ve used government funding to improve our free public wifi offer to improve performance for residents, and this new partnership will enable us to further tackle digital poverty and give residents free access in more places.’
A city wide digital Egg Hunt will mark the network launch, helping raise awareness and promote usage. Five hidden ‘eggs’, each worth £1,000, will be spread across Newcastle. These can be claimed either by joining the network via the app, or adding a new venue to the list of locations. Purple is also incentivising small businesses in the North East city with £120,000 of hardware and licenses being given away to 1,000 SMEs in the region.
‘Newcastle is home to more than 53,000 businesses, including one of the fastest-growing SME sectors in the UK,” Purple CEO Gavin Wheeldon commented. ‘Local businesses face mounting pressures from rising costs, and this initiative arms them with the digital intelligence to attract more customers and compete in a tough market.’
Image: Karl Moran / Unsplash
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