More than one million people have signed up for free public WiFi offered by IntechnologyWiFi.

IntechnologyWiFi provides connectivity in the centres of Edinburgh, Southend-on-Sea, Watford, Windsor and Maidenhead, and believes the high user rate demonstrates a strong demand for digital inclusion in towns and cities across the UK.

The company partners with local authorities to open up the internet for all users, regardless of whether they can afford expensive mobile data plans.

WiFi Popularity

Edinburgh’s free city centre WiFi service launched in December 2016. Research has shown that commuters, inner city students and ‘cosmopolitans’ are the most frequent users of the service in the capital, with younger users making up the majority of the audience. The service has proven to be most popular among people in the 15- to 24-year-old age group.

IntechnologyWiFi is now rolling out new services in towns and cities in the East and West Midlands, the Lake District and East Anglia.

Natalie Duffield, chief executive of IntechnologyWiFi, said: “We have built one of Britain’s biggest platforms for digital inclusion.

“We are creating opportunities for more people than ever before to take part in the digital economy and access public services online. This is great news for councils, citizens, businesses and visitors.”

As well as one million WiFi registrations, IntechnologyWiFi has also recorded 7.5 million user sessions with Saturday 25th August during the Bank Holiday weekend representing the highest use day across its network.

Digital inclusion is an important political issue, according to IntechnologyWiFi – an estimated 4.8m UK adults have never used the internet.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport sees digital inclusion and skills as a gateway for citizens to gain employment, save money, expand career opportunities, reduce isolation, improve health and wellbeing and much more.

In Watford, IntechnologyWiFi has rolled out free wireless connectivity in community centres, enabling residents to access the digital world at no cost.

The company says its multiple deployments of free public WiFi have generated a large amount of data and insight into town and city life.

The connectivity has created a platform for local authorities to operate Smart City and Internet of Things applications in fields such as transport, health, tourism and environment.

IntechnologyWiFi says these applications allow councils to deliver more public services for less money and give citizens the chance to lead healthier and more convenient lives.