The outdoor public Wifi service EdiFreeWiFi is now available, bringing free high-speed internet connectivity to Edinburgh city centre in time for the Christmas and Hogmanay celebrations.

In March this year the City of Edinburgh Council agreed to a 10-year concession contract with intechnologyWiFi to deliver WiFi coverage and improved mobile reception to the city centre.

The WiFi network has been made live to coincide with Edinburgh’s festive events, which attract more than a million people. intechnologyWiFi is Official Communications Partner for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay and has installed extra equipment for the festive season.

A map of the available coverage and FAQs about the EdiFreeWiFi service are available at www.edinburghfreewifi.com.

The WiFi network is central to the Council’s plans for growing the city economy and encouraging residents and visitors to stay longer and increase their spend. Users of the service will also benefit from savings to their mobile data plans by being able to access the outdoor internet at no cost and without restrictions on time.

YouGov research published earlier this year revealed that nearly (43%) of Britons are frustrated by the lack of free, public WiFi networks available across the UK, while one in four people (24%) would be more likely to stay longer in a town or city centre with access to free WiFi.

To this end, the outdoor WiFi network could drive greater footfall in Edinburgh’s city centre, supporting the high street and local economy, while making it easier for tourists to access information about the city’s retail and leisure attractions.

intechnologyWiFi has installed and will operate the outdoor WiFi network at no cost to the council, and was granted exclusive use of the council’s street furniture and properties to locate the state-of-the-art equipment required to provide seamless, easy-to-access internet coverage to users – distinct from the traditional hotspot model, which usually provides connectivity in a very small or specific area.

The rolling out of free outdoor WiFi internet connectivity in the city centre represents an ambitious and exciting step forward for Edinburgh in meeting the demands of residents and tourists.

Our team has been working hard to complete the installation of equipment and connections across this beautiful and historic World Heritage Site, allowing millions of people to enhance their experience of living, working and visiting in Edinburgh.

We are delighted to be partnering with the City of Edinburgh council and investing in this forward-looking project.