The Victorian government has extended Melbourne CBD's free public WiFi after a review, confirming it will remain for at least another two years.
Free WiFi will continue to be available in the CBD for Melburnians and tourists alike with the state government extending the service for another two years. The VicFreeWiFi service is available outdoors at more than 400 hotspots, including at all train stations, the Bourke St Mall, Queen Victoria Market, and South Wharf Promenade at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Users can assess up to 1GB per day per device, free of advertising (which makes it fairly unique among major cities worldwide) and without the need to log-in or submit personal details.
What you need to know
- Melbourne’s CBD will have free WiFi until at least 2024
- The state government has extended the ad-free scheme for another two years
- Users can assess up to 1GB per day per device around the inner city
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around Melbourne here.
Free public WiFi makes it easier for those in the CBD to access public transport time tables as well as booking nearby restraunts and tickets to major events, although it largely plays a role for tourists who are less likely to have access to mobile coverage.
After Perth pioneered the idea of providing widespread wireless internet in the inner-city among Australian capital cities, the VicFreeWiFi pilot in Melbourne launched in 2016 and was one of the largest free public WiFi network of its kind in Australia. Since then, the Melbourne service has been used more than 45 million times with more than 430 terabytes of data downloaded.
Free public WiFi is also available in Ballarat, Bendigo and Shepparton, and work is underway to deliver free WiFi networks in Geelong, Latrobe Valley and Ararat. “Melburnians are online more than ever before and we are thrilled that they will have access to free WiFi when they’re in our smart, connected city,” acting Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece said.
To find the VicFreeWiFi hotspots in Melbourne’s CBD, head here.
