A pilot project will supply free Internet service to downtown Charlottetown by mid-August.
A team of local entrepreneurs is currently installing equipment that will make it possible to log onto the web for free anywhere from the waterfront to Euston Street and from Rochford Street to Weymouth Street.
When, or if, it expands depends on how things are received.
It's called Wicked Eh Wireless Network, which will supply basic Wi-Fi that allows users to get online quickly and securely, access their email, post to Facebook or Twitter or Google for a good local restaurant.
"The Internet allows people to connect, create, share and educate themselves in a way that no other resource can,'' says founding partner Robert Nelson. "We believe that access to information should be free, and that is the core of the Wicked Eh concept.''
There is no government money involved and no request for funding has been made.
Revenue will be generated by ad buys and premium fees paid to Wicked Eh Wireless Network and cover ongoing operational costs. Venues, sponsors and partners can block purchase ad space or repay for premium use accounts.
Free access includes one-hour sessions, meant to target people who don't have packages offered by the big players. It also features unlimited data use.
Daily premium coverage is available for $1 per day, featuring 24 hours of access and higher speeds. Monthly premium is the top tier at $25 per month.
Essentially, anyone who wants to access Netflix or Facetime will need to pay and those who need multiple Internet connections, smartphone, computer, television, etc., probably won't use this service.
But it might appeal to those who usually walk to the local coffee shop for Internet service or tourists just getting off the cruise ship. Wicked Eh says the difference here is that signal strength stays the same, whether there are 20 people using it at the same time or 400.
"I think it's going to be incredible to be able to walk downtown and connect to Wi-Fi,'' said Charlottetown businessman Will Stevenson. "When you're travelling it costs a fortune to be able to do anything (online).''
Stevenson said his staff use Internet connections for their work and it's nice to know they won't have use data downtown once this launches.
Hannah Bell, another founding partner, said the group has been working on this for more than a year.
"A lot of people can't afford the level of data plan access that you need to have on a regular basis. Money is a really big barrier,'' said Bell, who also acts as the president of the P.E.I. Business Women's Association.
"Entertainment is something people should have to pay for . . . but access to basic information, surf the net, check your email, even for that social interaction like Facebook . . . that's how we stay engaged with family and friends.''
Cities like Montreal, Quebec City and parts of Toronto have similar concepts in place.
Bell said Wicked Eh will function using radio frequencies so it basically operates like a router does with Wi-Fi.
Bell said there is an economic benefit here for downtown Charlottetown.
"People are more likely to find the things they are looking for and spend money because they found it.''
For more information on free Wi-Fi project in downtown Charlottetown:
On the web: www.wickedeh.net
Email: infowickedeh.net
Twitter: www.twitter.com/wickedeh
Facebook: www.facebook.com/wickedeh
dstewart@theguardian.pe.ca
Twitter.com/DveStewart
A pilot project will supply free Internet service to downtown Charlottetown by mid-August.
A team of local entrepreneurs is currently installing equipment that will make it possible to log onto the web for free anywhere from the waterfront to Euston Street and from Rochford Street to Weymouth Street.
When, or if, it expands depends on how things are received.
It's called Wicked Eh Wireless Network, which will supply basic Wi-Fi that allows users to get online quickly and securely, access their email, post to Facebook or Twitter or Google for a good local restaurant.
"The Internet allows people to connect, create, share and educate themselves in a way that no other resource can,'' says founding partner Robert Nelson. "We believe that access to information should be free, and that is the core of the Wicked Eh concept.''
There is no government money involved and no request for funding has been made.
Revenue will be generated by ad buys and premium fees paid to Wicked Eh Wireless Network and cover ongoing operational costs. Venues, sponsors and partners can block purchase ad space or repay for premium use accounts.
Free access includes one-hour sessions, meant to target people who don't have packages offered by the big players. It also features unlimited data use.
Daily premium coverage is available for $1 per day, featuring 24 hours of access and higher speeds. Monthly premium is the top tier at $25 per month.
Essentially, anyone who wants to access Netflix or Facetime will need to pay and those who need multiple Internet connections, smartphone, computer, television, etc., probably won't use this service.
But it might appeal to those who usually walk to the local coffee shop for Internet service or tourists just getting off the cruise ship. Wicked Eh says the difference here is that signal strength stays the same, whether there are 20 people using it at the same time or 400.
"I think it's going to be incredible to be able to walk downtown and connect to Wi-Fi,'' said Charlottetown businessman Will Stevenson. "When you're travelling it costs a fortune to be able to do anything (online).''
Stevenson said his staff use Internet connections for their work and it's nice to know they won't have use data downtown once this launches.
Hannah Bell, another founding partner, said the group has been working on this for more than a year.
"A lot of people can't afford the level of data plan access that you need to have on a regular basis. Money is a really big barrier,'' said Bell, who also acts as the president of the P.E.I. Business Women's Association.
"Entertainment is something people should have to pay for . . . but access to basic information, surf the net, check your email, even for that social interaction like Facebook . . . that's how we stay engaged with family and friends.''
Cities like Montreal, Quebec City and parts of Toronto have similar concepts in place.
Bell said Wicked Eh will function using radio frequencies so it basically operates like a router does with Wi-Fi.
Bell said there is an economic benefit here for downtown Charlottetown.
"People are more likely to find the things they are looking for and spend money because they found it.''
For more information on free Wi-Fi project in downtown Charlottetown:
On the web: www.wickedeh.net
Email: infowickedeh.net
Twitter: www.twitter.com/wickedeh
Facebook: www.facebook.com/wickedeh
dstewart@theguardian.pe.ca
Twitter.com/DveStewart
