A free public Wi-Fi system is set to launch across Dublin City, which requires users to only log-in once to access any of its hotspots.

The new OpenRoaming system aims to let residents and visitors maintain seamless connectivity across their devices by automatically switching to different public Wi-Fi locations. The system is set to be rolled out across the city following a successful proof-of-concept trail.

The system was initially deployed at Barnardo Square, Dame Street and the area around Dublin City Council’s amphitheatre. It is anticipated that OpenRoaming will be rolled out to more than 150 access points across Dublin city.

The trial was initiated by Dublin City Council’s (DCC) Smart Dublin programme and was supported by the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) and Virgin Media, with participation from CommScope. WBA said its OpenRoaming system is available at more than 1m hotspots worldwide.

“Wi-Fi is the foundation for smart cities,” WBA CEO Tiago Rodrigues said. “This successful proof-of-concept trial shows that that the City of Dublin and its residents, businesses and visitors all can depend on the WBA OpenRoaming standard to ensure that they always have convenient access to seamless, secure, carrier-grade Wi-Fi connectivity.”

DCC smart city lead Jamie Cudden said Dublin is at the “forefront of a digital transformation” that is serving as a model for other municipalities around the world.

“Collaborations like this are key to the delivery of convenient, reliable and ubiquitous connectivity which is critical for achieving our smart city goals such as closing the digital divide and ensuring that government is responsive to the needs of citizens and businesses,” Cudden said.

“This successful trial of WBA OpenRoaming is a milestone toward achieving all those goals.”

Dublin’s current smart city goals include providing communities with seamless access to online services, giving tourists and other visitors free, secure, high-performance Wi-Fi access and ensuring broadband connectivity for interactive immersive learning, research and hybrid study.

Smart Dublin was founded by the four Dublin local authorities. It aims to future-proof the Dublin regions by trialling technology solutions to address a wide range of local challenges.

The new system was announced as part of World Wi-Fi Day, which celebrates the role Wi-Fi plays in getting cities and communities around the world connected.

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