Council to offer free wireless internet in Belfast city centre

Belfast could soon have free public wireless internet available throughout the city under plans being unveiled on Monday by the city council.

Belfast City Council wants to offer free wireless internet to all residents and visitors.

The city is one of 10 in the UK which have secured super-connected status from the government.

The council has already received £6m in funding and is hoping to more than double that in a forthcoming bid.

It will use that money to put a wireless network in place covering an area stretching out from city hall in a five kilometre radius.

It also plans to ensure that ultrafast broadband internet connections are widely available - making the city an attractive investment location for media and technology firms.

The plan is to have the new networks in place by 2015.