A free public Wi-Fi network that covers the entire Launceston CBD and parts of several suburbs on the city’s outskirts has won an award for its innovation.
The council-run network was launched a decade ago to provide tourists with an easy way to get connected but quickly expanded to suburbs with less access to the internet.
Acting Mayor Hugh McKenzie said 1,500 unique users hop online every day to do everything from searching for employment, to shopping, connecting with friends and engaging in education or training.
“It is a service utilised by visitors to our city as well as locals and we know it has also played an important role in assisting disadvantaged members of our community to remain connected,” he said.
“I’m reliably informed that over the past decade, total usage of this network has surpassed 100 terabytes of data, 4,500 times the size of Wikipedia’s entire article database.”
Expansions in 2018 and 2020 added increased coverage to areas like Invermay, Mowbray, Waverley and Mayfield.
More recently, hotspots have been activated in Ravenswood, Rocherlea, Churchill Park and the Heritage Forest Community Garden.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese presented the award to Mayor Matthew Garwood at the recent National Awards for Local Government in Canberra, where the city was recognised in the regional growth category.
“As a city building its future, it’s great to see Launceston recognised for an innovative project like the free public Wi-Fi network,” McKenzie said.
