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Docklands wi-fi: a rip-off

Here's a development that seems to hark back to the bad old days worst of the current wi-fi overcharging. The Dublin Dockland Development Authority has been telling the media for the last two years that it would be rolling out "free" wi-fi. Now it has done so -- and limited it to 10 commercial websites.

Anyone wanting access to normal websites, like Google, will have to pay the astonishing sum of €70 per week (or €20 per day or €6 per hour). Sorry, DDDA, but this is a complete rip-off.

For the record, here is the press release:

The Docklands Authority has today (June 26 2008) launched a Wi-Fi network for the area providing mobile high-speed broadband access for anyone working, living or visiting the Docklands.

Developed in conjunction with 3PlayPlus, the service, called DockNet, will transform Dublin’s Docklands into a giant Wi-Fi broadband hotspot and is the first of its kind in Dublin.

DockNet will provide high-speed broadband to Dublin’s Docklands via wireless technology enabling thousands of residents, business owners and visitors to experience a rich Internet experience without being tied to their desk.

Users of the service will be able to access ten websites for free. These websites include dublindocklands.ie, sports.ie, phantom.ie, and dublinbus.ie. Users accessing websites outside the ten free sites will be charged at rates starting at €6 for one hour.

The first phase of the service covering the Grand Canal Dock area went live today with Wi-Fi being rolled-out in other areas of the Docklands over the coming months. It is anticipated that the entire Docklands area will have Wi-Fi coverage by mid-2009.

Donal O’Connor, Chairman, Docklands Authority, said, "The Authority believes that the delivery of Wi-Fi for the Docklands is an important investment in the infrastructure required to enable the area’s continued regeneration. Broadband Internet access is now vital to the economic and social development of any community and we are delighted to be able to provide anyone living, working or visiting the Docklands with the opportunity to utilise Wi-Fi."

Commenting on the new service, David Higgins, Director of Finance of the Docklands Authority, said, "Securing the provision of broadband communications in the Docklands will put the area at an advantage as it will facilitate new ways of working, opportunities for education, training, and new home and leisure activities. Wi-Fi has become a necessary service and we are delighted to be the first area network established in Dublin."

Terry Crowley, Managing Director, 3PlayPlus, said, "3PlayPlus is delighted to work with the Docklands Authority on this project, bringing our experience in broadband and multimedia service provision to the Docklands.
We look forward to delivering broadband to the area and empowering the region with world-class Internet service."

DockNet will be one of the largest wireless hotspots of its kind in Ireland.  DockNet will have the capacity to fully support advanced digital services such as VoIP, Broadcast TV, CCTV security and video applications, enriching the digital experience throughout the whole area and delivering broadband connection speeds.

Fixed Wireless Access is among the fastest-growing Broadband access platforms and according to ComReg’s annual report, April 2008, it is presently realising a 56% year-on-year growth. Fixed Wireless Access is a proven technology and capable of delivering faster speeds than traditional copper-cable based systems.

The ten websites that can be accessed for free via DockNet are:
www.dublindocklands.ie
www.sports.ie
www.welfare.ie
www.met.ie
www.chq.ie
www.ifsc.ie
www.dublinbus.ie
www.itsyourmoney.ie
www.dubsimon.ie
www.phantom.ie

The schedule of rates for accessing websites outside of the ten free sites are (as of 23 June 2008):
1 hour - €6
4 hours - €10
24 hours - €20
7 days - €60

Wifi cafes -- return to the pits

What is the ugliest, smelliest, most unhygenic wifi cafe in Dublin? Right now, I'd say it's Cafe Kylemore in the Stephens Green Centre. As I write, I'm surrounded by filth, scum and a collection of other bits and pieces of detritus. My window seat is adorned with stains and some black substance, while the grouting between the floor tiles looks like it's a scientific experiment. The icing on the cake? €3.70 for a small hot chocolate. What a rip-off.

City-wide wi-fi abandoned by Dublin City Council

A report commissioned by Dublin City Council says that a free metropolitan wi-fi network shouldn't be pursued because it would run foul of European Commission regulations on state aid.
"If we went the whole hog the Commission would probably shut it down," said Fine Gael councillor Naoise O'Muiri, a committee member, to this blog. "The telcos are powerful companies and would have resources to fight it, too."
But what about the examples that US cities such as Philadephia have set?
"Over there, it's much less regulated," said O'Muiri. "There's an obsession with market over here and that's definitely a factor."
The committee is relying heavily on a European Commission decision earlier this year concerning a plan by authorities in Prague to build and operate a citywide wi-fi network for schools and other public utilites.
While the Commission allowed the scheme to proceed, its rationale for doing so implied that any similar project which discommoded a private sector player could violate EU competition rules.
The report, which will be recommended by members of the Council's wi-fi committee, recommends pilot projects in three "disadvantaged" areas of Dublin instead. The areas are Ballymun, Ballyfermot and a small section area of Dublin 8 and Dublin 2 around the Liberties and Thomas Street area.
It is possible, too, that such wi-fi access may be limited to government services, such as motortax.ie. And the trials are mooted to last three years at a cost of between €600,000 and €1 million each.
Personally, I'm very disappointed in this outcome. Wi-fi services in Dublin are few and far between and are very costly. I don't fully accept that Brussels is the problem: there are so few wi-fi operations in Dublin that it should be possible to come to some sort of compensation programme, even giving operators a small piece of the (much larger) city-wide revenue pie.
It could be argued that newer HSDPA services, with speeds of 3Mbs, is now a cheaper solution. But this is no use to business travellers or visitors from abroad, as they require annual contracts from mobile operators.
Councillors are likely to trumpet this as a triumph in the fight against the digital divide. But that's not what this should have been about.

Free wi-fi in Radisson SAS, Stillorgan

Following a fairly bad-tempered article about how hotels rip off their clients on broadband charges, the following has come in:

"Dear Adrian, I would like to refer to recent article "realityBytes" in Sunday Business Post article -- March 11th 2007 -- "Thinking of traveling to Dublin on business" and to take this opportunity to update you on free broadband and Wi-fi at Radisson SAS St. Helen's Hotel, Dublin. That's free internet access in all guest rooms via your laptop and free wireless access for conference delegates in meeting rooms and public area hot spots. I would be very grateful if you would kindly include this information at your next opportunity to ensure that our clients traveling to Dublin are aware of this great cost saving we have to offer. Sincerely, Yvonne McNamara, sales manager, Radisson SAS St Helen's Hotel, Dublin."

'Free wi-fi' for Dublin docklands this year

Free wi-fi in the Dublin docklands area appears to be on the agenda, if comments made by the chief executive of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority are to be believed. Speaking at the Irish Property Developers' conference earlier in the week, Paul Maloney said that this was on the DDDA's agenda for this year. No further information as to tenders, infrastructural layout or the like yet.

Manchester plans free city wi-fi

Or so the BBC says. The story is here. Dublin's bid may be hotting up -- more on this later.

Free Dublin wi-fi on the cards?

Looks like free or subsidised wi-fi for Dublin city is still simmering as an issue. Dublin City Council looks set to put in free wi-fi in all Dublin library branches, according to documents I've seen. And a Labour TD, Tommy Broughan, has re-iterated his call for a free wi-fi zone between the canals in Dublin. More on this later.

Irish wi-fi cafes: the best and the worst

What's the worst cup of coffee in wi-fi enabled cafes around Dublin? As I write, I'm sitting in Cafe Kylemore in Dublin's Stephen's Green Centre with a cappucino from the area's 'Coffee Cuisine' concession. It is bad enough to warrant a move to another place in 10 minutes. (Perhaps it's a cunning ploy to make sure wi-fiers don't hang around for an hour nursing a single cup.) How do other venues compare? Here's what I find:

Insomnia Cafe (BT Openzone service) * * *
Mediocre coffee but excellent hot chocolate. Environment is reasonably comfortable.

Coffee Society (Bitbuzz service) * * * *
Fairly good coffee and top-notch muffins. Very comfortable, too -- currently the best wi-fi cafe chain in Dublin.

Starbucks (Eircom service) *
Best coffee of any cafe chain in Ireland but overall environment is terrible, thanks to cramped seating and loud, cacophonous noise.

KC Peaches (free service, Pearse Street, Dublin 4) * * * * *
The single best wi-fi cafe in Dublin, if not in Ireland. Wi-fi is free (beaucoup kudos), decent quality and the coffee is excellent. Not only that, but sandwiches and pastries are superb. Viva KC Peaches!

Norwich introduces free city wi-fi

It's 256k to the public, so as "not to compete" with commercial operators. Here's the story.

Lord Mayor of Dublin backs free city-wide wi-fi

The new Lord Mayor of Dublin, Vincent Jackson, has come out in favour of free, or very cheap, wi-fi built by the city. And he says that if councillors such as Naoise O'Muiri and Lucinda Creighton keep their campaigns up, it has a good chance of actually being funded as early as this November. I talked to him earlier this week about the issue.
"Looking around the council, I think that there will be very few people saying no to this," said Jackson. "It's not a lot of money. It's a very positive thing for everybody. It would be great if Dublin was to the fore of this."
"It's not a lot of money by today's standards. If it were to result in an advantage to investing in Dublin, it must be considered. You only have to look at how much the IDA spends at the moment attracting jobs. This is not a lot of money by comparison."
"It's important that Naoise [O'Muiri] brings it up in November. That's when the estimates are published. There are a lot of negotiations and debate in the eight weeks before that over funding and where money is to be sourced for various issues."
"We're no longer a low cost economy. Research and development is the way of the future."

This idea may be gaining momentum. (Picture taken by NoirinP.)