by James E. Carroll
Telstra is switching on the first 150 Wi-Fi hotspots in anational Wi-Fi network
The first Wi-Fi trials will be located at payphone sites in the heart of local communities in metro and regional areas as well as holiday hotspots, focusing on parts of the communities where people congregate and spend time. In future, Telstra-built hotspots will also be located at Telstra retail outlets and exchange buildings.
Access to Wi-Fi will be free at the 1000 trial sites before the network officially launches early next year.
“This trial marks the beginning of our ambition to switch on more than two million hotspots across the nation over five years and give customers the best Wi-Fi experience in and out of the home,” said Gordon Ballantyne, Group Executive Telstra Retail.
“We want customers to have greater options for connecting when they’re out and about. From browsing the web, streaming videos or sharing photos with friends, we want customers to have a taste of what the network will be like next year, when Telstra Wi-Fi members will be able to use their home broadband allowance at the hotspots.
