时间:2025-04-04 05:17:20 来源:网络整理编辑:百科
Slowly, but surely, Australia's towns and cities are getting free Wi-Fi networks.Melbourne is the la
Slowly, but surely, Australia's towns and cities are getting free Wi-Fi networks.
Melbourne is the latest, with the Victorian government announcing a free Wi-Fi pilot program on Thursday. It joins Adelaide, Perth and the Sydney suburb of Liverpool in having CBD-wide Wi-Fi.
Aren't you excited?
SEE ALSO:How 'Forza Horizon 3' got Australia to look so damn goodBranded "VicFreeWiFi," it will be the country's largest and fastest free Wi-Fi network, which includes services that have been operating in neighbouring Bendigo and Ballarat since December 2015.
The Melbourne service will cover CBD train stations, Bourke St Mall, Queen Victoria Market, and the South Wharf Promenade at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. And it's available right now.
Tweet may have been deleted
But of course, the question still remains as to how much Melbourne's "world-class" municipal Wi-Fi service will be used, and just exactly by whom.
In Helsinki, the city's fast free Wi-Fi (with download speeds of 24 megabits per second) is primarily used by tourists and visitors looking to avoid hefty roaming charges, according to Quartz. Many of its citizens have affordable mobile plans with generous data plans, and don't really need to use public Wi-Fi.
In New York City, free Wi-Fi helps to address social inequality. The largest municipal Wi-Fi network in the world, LinkNYC, is touted as helping bridging the "digital divide" between the city's wide range of economic classes.
You can also clock download speeds of more than 300 megabits per second -- much faster than many household and even enterprise internet connections in the city.
NYC's new internet street kiosks are also a wonder, even if some people are looking at porn on them.
Melbourne's program isn't quite as generous, or as fast. Network speeds are a minimum of 2 megabits per second, with pre-launch tests delivering peak speeds of almost 90 megabits per second, a Victorian government spokesperson told Mashable via email.
There's also a 250MB daily limit per device, which means you won't be able to get too far with your downloads.
Like the Helsinkians, city-dwelling Australians already have relatively cheap mobile plans with decent data allowances. It's again tourists will use it, or those poor souls who have run out of mobile data.
Tweet may have been deleted
Let's not also forget the major issue of security and privacy when it comes to using public Wi-Fi networks, which is even noted on the Victorian government's information page for the service.
In Sydney, the state government has installed free Wi-Fi on most ferry services and regional platforms at Central Station, while a 2010 trial at Circular Quay train station quietly disappeared.
We'll see if Melbournians take to their new W-Fi.
Whyd voice2025-04-04 04:37
This robot dog will come when you call it2025-04-04 04:32
Canadian airline turns kitty into staff member during Alberta evacuations2025-04-04 04:21
Toyota teams with Segway inventor to revive innovative iBot wheelchair2025-04-04 04:09
Metallica to seek and destroy your eardrums with new album this fall2025-04-04 03:58
Toyota teams with Segway inventor to revive innovative iBot wheelchair2025-04-04 03:57
Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton may be paying people to post about their relationship2025-04-04 03:50
Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton may be paying people to post about their relationship2025-04-04 03:47
Singapore rolls out video2025-04-04 02:43
Tougher, more rugged 'Galaxy S7 Active' is likely an AT&T exclusive2025-04-04 02:35
5 people Tim Cook calls for advice on running the biggest company in the world2025-04-04 05:12
Toyota teams with Segway inventor to revive innovative iBot wheelchair2025-04-04 04:45
Justin Bieber's face tattoo may be a loving Ryan Gosling tribute2025-04-04 04:40
Queen wins Tesco gift card, looks happier than we've seen her in years2025-04-04 04:26
Photos show the Blue Cut fire blazing a path of destruction in California2025-04-04 04:08
Louis C.K. wins $50,000 on 'Jeopardy' because he's Louis C.K.2025-04-04 03:31
Why did Instagram change its logo now?2025-04-04 03:18
Uganda blocks Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp as president sworn in for 5th term2025-04-04 03:16
Make money or go to Stanford? Katie Ledecky is left with an unfair choice.2025-04-04 03:08
KAYAK now offers flight information through Amazon's Alexa2025-04-04 02:53