Town’s WiFi Hotspots Delayed (Again!) – 4G Progression Could Make It Redundant

There are further delays in the launch of Wrexham Town Centre’s public WiFi, however it is hoped the system will be ‘up and running’ in the next few weeks.

The new WiFi hotspot systems which were installed across the town centre during June 2015 and were expected to be fully up and running by September that year.

However in in August 2016 Wrexham.com reported that the town centre’s new public WiFi was due to go live in September – over a year after the system was originally installed.

The public WiFi system features as part of the new ‘hybrid transmission system’ CCTV system which last year replaced the current analogue cameras.

As part of the upgrade of the CCTV a network of WiFi hotspots across the town centre were to be created with Wrexham Council stating in 2015 that the system would allow ‘visitors and residents improved access to public services and local businesses to be more competitive online’.

Funding for the new CCTV system came from capital funding of £74k allocated by the Council, with £158k from the Assets and Economic department, and £168k from ‘Vibrant and Viable Places’. The WiFi system was later added as a ‘bolt on’ to the CCTV system.

Once up and running the Wifi service will be provided by ‘Purple’, a system which will allow Wrexham Council to gather data about people’s shopping habits when they hook into the town centre system.

Details about Purple WiFi are provided on the company’s website, which states: “Purple provides you with rich analytics about customers behaviour in physical spaces.

“Similar to web analytics, Purple captures footfall, passers by, conversion and bounce rates, dwell times, return visits and frequency; a snapshot of what you need to know, to understand your venues.”

The informational video also notes that when a guest logs into the system via Facebook not only does it seem that profile names and pictures are logged, but ‘additional information about likes’ are collected. Websites visited are also logged as part of the system.

During October’s Employment, Business and Investment Scrutiny Committee questions over the necessity of the free Wifi system in the town centre were asked, with Cllr Rodney Skelland stating that the town is now covered by good 4G.

Speaking at the time Cllr Hugh Jones said: “When we went out to contract for the provision of CCTV it was some years ago and 4G wasn’t advanced.”

He added: “We will review at the end of the three years and see if it something we want to continue with.”

During the meeting it was also noted that the WiFi system was still yet to go live and was being tested – however it was hoped the system would be up and running in ‘the next couple of weeks’.

Wrexham.com queried Wrexham Council for details on the further delay in the Wifi system going live and if there was any indication as to when visitors would be able to connect with the system.

In response to the questions, a spokesperson for Wrexham Council said: “Free WiFi on the CCTV network is due to go live soon, and awaits just a few changes by BT before the system can be completed.”

“Purple were put forward by Openview – who won the tender – as an option for provider of our Wi-Fi.”