City centre wins aWi-Fi competition

SHOPPERS and visitors in Swansea will be able to enjoy free Wi-Fi access following Swansea Business Improvement District’s win of a £20,000 public Wi-Fi package.

Swansea BID won the wifi windfall via the Local Legend competition, organised by Revive and Thrive, a UK-wide support network for town and city management bodies and organisations.

Following the cash injection, Swansea BID is organising permissions to place new Wi-Fi beacons in the city centre, which will provide free Wi-Fi to shoppers and visitors.

Swansea BID chief executive Russell Greenslade said: “This money will improve the shopper and visitor experience in a meaningful way and the scheme comes at a time when we are laying down concrete plans for a more modern, more productive and better-functioning region, thanks to the City Centre Deal.”

Mark Barnes, managing director and founder of Revive and Thrive, said: “We were impressed to see the enthusiasm and energy Swansea BID has committed to improving their city centre for businesses, residents and visitors, and we wanted to get behind their efforts.

“We are very grateful to ongoing support from ElephantWiFi, who donate these Wi-Fi packages for free so the Local Legends initiative can continue to help towns and cities across the UK to thrive.”

The money will also help Swansea BID develop its ongoing digital strategy by allowing the group to install geo-sensors to monitor shopping habits in the city.

The data from these sensors will feed into BID’s shopper profiles and help city-centre businesses identify target markets.