Adelaide City Wi-Fi Project

The Hon. T.T. NGO (15:15): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Science and Information Economy a question about the use of technology in creating a modern and vibrant city.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.T. NGO: The effective use of technology and innovation is important to our economy and to our community. Connecting people with businesses and entertainment and with each other is what makes a community vibrant and inclusive. I was once an adviser to the Minister for Science and Information Economy, and I was proud that the Labor government was in partnership with Adam Internet to build wi-fi technology to provide high-speed broadband where fixed line broadband was not available. I know that the technology has enabled thousands of families and businesses the opportunity to have access to fast broadband they would not otherwise have had. My question is: can the minister inform the chamber about a recent announcement to create a more modern and vibrant city?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (15:16): I thank the honourable member for his most important question and for his ongoing interest in this policy area. However, before I provide a response, I want to place on the record that this government has contributed $5,000 to the foundation, and I do accept the Hon. Tammy Franks' apology for misleading this chamber when she said that we had provided no financial contribution.

I am pleased to inform the chamber that Adelaide has become the first capital city in Australia to provide large-scale, fast and free wi-fi in outdoor public places.

The Hon. T.A. Franks interjecting:

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: I can't hear myself, Mr President.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: I think that it is important that we allow the minister to answer this question in silence. I think that there are other members who want to hear the answer. The honourable minister.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Thank you, Mr President. We are the first capital city in Australia to provide large-scale, fast and free wi-fi in outdoor public spaces. This $1.5 million investment means that anyone with a laptop, smart phone or tablet—shoppers, diners, workers, students and visitors to the city—can surf the net, send emails, post photos, do business on the go or promote Adelaide to the rest of the world.

Up to 200 new wi-fi locations, complementing an existing 100 locations already offered by Internode, are now active across Adelaide's main business district, including public areas, such as squares, the Riverbank district and the Central Market, along with parts of North Adelaide, with another 11 wi-fi locations to be completed over the coming months. So, we are continuing to roll that out.

Access to free wi-fi will help revitalise squares, laneways and streets as places for people to work, study and communicate with friends and relatives, making Adelaide a more vibrant place. We know that as many as 5,500 users are connecting to the AdelaideFree network at any one time, with some 30,000 unique users every day, and we are sure that those numbers will increase rapidly as people take advantage of the new free wi-fi connections. The quality of the service is comparable to mobile phone 3G and ADSL2+ home broadband services, with a guaranteed download speed of two megabits per second.

The network speed has been trialled successfully at some of Adelaide's biggest events, including the Tour Down Under in the city, and also the Adelaide Fringe festival, so we are very confident in our capabilities. In addition, 10 mobile access points are available to enable temporary coverage in the Parklands and are used to bolster coverage at major public events.

The AdelaideFree wi-fi network is an excellent example of cooperative partnership between the state government, the Adelaide City Council and Internode, which administered the connection sites. The network will enable the state government and the Adelaide City Council to develop smart services and applications, including things like parking meters, street lighting, waste management and environmental monitoring, and new ways to address security and also public safety. There are so many opportunities that this new capability opens up for us. There will be no ongoing cost to the state government to operate the network beyond the initial investment to set up the network infrastructure.

They have said that Adelaide is leading the way for the nation. In fact, other capital cities admire our model so much that I understand they are going to copy it. The AdelaideFree wi-fi network really does build our reputation as a smart city and a city where creativity and innovation thrive. I would also like to mention that as part of the launch of the AdelaideFree wi-fi network I had great pleasure in announcing the winners of the AdelaideFree wi-fi competition. The competition encouraged local app developers to submit ideas for apps that provide a meaningful service for users who interact with the AdelaideFree wi-fi network.

With these new apps, people now have more information about nearby attractions, restaurants, transport services and the like. The six winners received $5,000 and a six-month mentoring service. Also, I would like to place on record my congratulations to the developers of the following apps. One is called Open in Adelaide by NextFaze and it tracks nearby shops, restaurants and attractions that are open in the city, anywhere and any time. Also, NextUp Adl, by Quentin Zervaas, is an app that quickly accesses when the next bus, train or tram is coming for the nearest stop along the route map. Tootz by Tootz is a location-based app that enables nearby businesses to advertise services and offers via push notifications to subscribers. Also, Around Adelaide by David Dennis offers location-based mapping directions and street views of Adelaide and details the best pubs, clubs and spots, and a range of different locations for people to socialise.

These apps can be downloaded through the iTunes store, and information about wi-fi locations can be found on the website www.adelaidefreewifi.com.au. It was wonderful to see a bunch of schoolchildren at the market at the time all using wi-fi. I went around and chatted with them and they were all absolutely delighted with the capability and they all remarked on the amazing speed capacity of the system at that particular location. I congratulate all those involved.