The South Australian Government has put up $1 million to combine with the Adelaide Council’s $500,000 to provide free high-speed wireless internet across large parts of the city.

Australian ISP Internode won the massive contract for the infrastructural works. Minister for the Information Economy Grace Portolesi said it would deliver the service to densely populated and business-related areas: “coverage will include the CBD, parts of North Adelaide and public areas such as all the squares, Riverbank precinct and the Central Market.”

Facilities for temporary coverage will be created too, providing wi-fi during events such as the Adelaide Fringe Festival, Womadelaide and for the Tour Down Under village in Victoria Square.

Free public wi-fi is gaining a presence in many major cities around the world; Adelaide will join Milan, Paris, Hong Kong, Taipei, Boston, Hollywood, Rzeszów and Perth among a growing list of cities with a municipal wireless internet service.