Newcastle digital revolution: secure public WiFi drives inclusion and economic growth

Purple is focused on creating a world where connectivity is seamless, secure, and available everywhere. Our recent webinar broke down exactly how the city of Newcastle Upon Tyne is leading this transformation through a landmark public-private partnership.

The conversation featured:

• Jenny Nelson, Assistant Director, Customer Contact, ICT and Digital Transformation at Newcastle City Council.
• Gavin Wheeldon, CEO of Purple.

The project isn't just about rolling out technology; it’s about inclusion, economics, and genuinely transforming the experience for everyone who lives, works, studies, or visits the city.

Addressing the Challenge of Digital Exclusion

Newcastle has long been a "smart city", but its digital strategy focuses heavily on skills development and inclusion. As Jenny Nelson explained, connectivity is a choice many in the city cannot afford, leading to digital exclusion and significant missed opportunities.

• Individuals without internet access can be up to £500 worse off annually due to a lack of access to online deals and cheaper rates.
• Connectivity is vital for social inclusion, access to education, essential services, and mental well-being, providing a "lifeline sometimes, literally", according to Gavin Wheeldon.

Why 5G Hasn't Solved the Problem

Gavin Wheeldon addressed the misconception that 5G eliminates the need for public WiFi:

• 5G signal does not penetrate indoors well because of the frequency it transmits on, meaning "not spots indoors are increasing significantly".
• Data plans are a barrier: Only 13% of people in the UK have a truly unlimited data plan, and even those often have fair usage policies that throttle speeds.
• Demand is soaring: Google Trends shows that searches for "free WiFi" and "WiFi near me" have increased by 60% in the last year, proving public WiFi is a critical lifeline.

The Problem with Disjointed Networks

Prior to the partnership, Newcastle's WiFi experience was "disjointed". Access was site-specific (e.g., in a library), requiring users to drop off and re-register whenever they moved to a new location.

As Gavin noted, the chief barrier to a great WiFi experience is the universally disliked captive portal (the sign-in form). This process is friction-filled and time-consuming.

The Blueprint: Secure, Seamless Connectivity

The Newcastle project fundamentally changes the public WiFi experience by creating a secure, city-wide, unified network based on a public-private partnership.

• Public-Private Partnership: The network spans council offices, libraries, public areas, and private venues, including cafes, churches, and businesses of all sizes, down to a small cafe in Jesmond.
• Seamless Experience: The network allows users to roam effortlessly from an outdoor public area to an indoor private venue without ever having to fill in another form or log in again.
• Secure Access via App: The Purple app acts as a universal WiFi authenticator. Users download it once and gain a secure connection everywhere, addressing the anxiety many feel about banking or accessing services on unsecured public WiFi.
• Campus-City Concept: With a high student population from Newcastle and Northumbria universities, the seamless network supports their movement across academic buildings, bars, and cafes, helping the city retain talent.

The Economic Opportunity of Density

This density of connectivity brings immense economic benefits to the city and local businesses:

• Digital Inclusion Drives Economy: Connecting residents to services, education, and job opportunities drives broader economic growth.
• Connected Tourism: With OpenRoaming, visitors from Purple's global network (including 130 airports and half a billion users worldwide) can seamlessly connect upon arrival in Newcastle. This instant connectivity encourages tourists to share photos and experiences, providing "free advertising for the city".
• Benefits for Local Businesses:
  
  • Friction Removed: Small businesses remove the headache of giving out passwords, dealing with security concerns, and managing GDPR or Investigatory Powers Act obligations. The Purple Hub removes liability and simplifies the process.
  • Data and Marketing: Venues gain access to aggregated data about customer behaviour and can communicate with returning customers to push offers and promotions, driving repeat business.

Newcastle: The Global Blueprint

Newcastle is the first council and the first city in the world to implement a public WiFi network of this kind. The council's forward-thinking nature, led by Jenny Nelson, made it the ideal innovative partner for Purple.

The network is already growing, with announcements expected in the coming months regarding the rollout across the Newcastle metro and other significant partners.

"I do think this will just be the standard, you know, fast forward if it's five, 10 years, whatever it might be, this will be the way it's done everywhere." - Gavin Wheeldon

Deployment is fast: Venues with existing broadband can be up and running in as little as 30 minutes. The basic guest WiFi solution is also available for free, with advanced analytics and marketing capabilities available at an additional cost.

The evolution of public WiFi hinges on prioritising secure, frictionless service to build community trust and enhance the urban experience. By eliminating the friction of the captive portal and adopting the unified network alongside the Purple app, Newcastle ensures that connectivity is a source of satisfaction and opportunity, not a barrier.

Watch the on-demand version of the webinar here. 

You can download the Purple app from your app store to experience seamless, secure WiFi on Purple's global network.

To learn more about joining the network, speak to us.