Telstra to roll out nationwide Wi-Fi network

Telstra will create one of the world’s largest Wi-Fi networks as part of a $100 million-plus strategy to increase connectivity across the country.

The strategy aims to offer all Australians, irrespective of whether they are a Telstra customer or not, access to two million Wi-Fi hotspots across the nation within five years. The network, which is scheduled to launch in early 2015, will also reach overseas allowing people to connect at more than 12 million international hotspots, as part of an exclusive deal recently concluded with global Wi-Fi provider, Fon.

Telstra will offer home broadband customers new gateways that allow them to securely share a portion of their bandwidth with other Telstra Wi-Fi customers. In exchange they can access their own home broadband allowance at Telstra hotspots across the nation.

It will also build more than 8000 Wi-Fi hotspots around the country to bring Wi-Fi internet to community areas and social precincts as well as shopping areas, business centres and transport hubs.

The telco will work with thousands of small businesses to bring Telstra Wi-Fi to cafes, shops and waiting rooms, and will partner with councils, business enterprises and governments to bring Wi-Fi to parks, stadiums and public buildings and to help create smart cities.