Sint-Niklaas (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Sint-Niklaas is ending its free WiFi after 8 years, saving €33,000 yearly. Alderman Carl Hanssens (N-VA) says it’s no longer needed, but Groen, led by Aster Back, opposes it, citing digital divide concerns.
The city of Sint-Niklaas, Belgium has decided to stop offering free WiFi. The city offered free WiFi for 8 years, but now they are not going to renew the contract. The city leader said that the reasons for offering free WiFi are not as important anymore. Mobile internet is now cheaper, so people can use their phones to get online.
The city leader mentioned that most businesses now have payment machines that work with mobile networks. The city council decided that free WiFi is no longer needed. This will save the city about 33,000 euros each year, which can be used for other things.
Will Sint-Niklaas discontinue free public WiFi permanently?
Some people are not happy about the city’s decision to stop offering free WiFi. The Groen party thinks free WiFi is important for everyone to be able to use the internet. They say it’s especially important for people who are struggling financially or who are new to the city. A study by AP Hogeschool showed that free WiFi helps people who can’t afford their internet.
Groen wants the city to offer free WiFi in even more places, instead of getting rid of it. They say that even though 10 euros for the internet might not seem like a lot, it can be a big expense for people who are struggling. They think that free WiFi is one of the best ways to help everyone have access to the internet.
Bridging the digital divide by giving everyone free access to free public internet is a no-brainer for us.
Aster Back, opposition councillor for Groen.
The city council is debating whether or not to keep free public WiFi in the city. The city leader says there is still free internet in some places, like the library and city hall, and that people can use the internet at the Welfare House and Youth House. He also says the city has a deal with Telenet to offer cheap internet to people who need it at home.
There is still internet for everyone in the Welfare House and the Youth House,
the alderman added.
If it is necessary, you can still go there for the internet. Through an agreement with Telenet, we can also provide cheap home internet to people who need it.
For the past 8 years, people in Sint-Niklaas have been able to use free WiFi in many places in the city. This includes the Stationsplein, Grote Markt, Houtbriel, Nieuwestraat, and Stationsstraat. The city started offering free WiFi to make the city more attractive and to help people connect to the internet.
Carl Hanssens, who was a member of the city council, says that the city decided to keep offering free WiFi after the first 4 years because it was so helpful for people. When the city started offering free WiFi, it was expensive to use the internet on phones and not everyone could afford it.
Sint-Niklaas decided to offer free WiFi in many places in the city. Officials mentioned that this made it easier for people to spend more time in the city centre, which helped local businesses. They said that the free WiFi was also helpful for public events, markets, and festivals.
8 years ago it was a smart move, but today it is simply no longer necessary.
Carl Hanssens (N-VA)
