Connecting Bristol has been working in partnership with Cityspace, Bristol Wireless, KWW Computers and Knowle West Media Centre in Knowle West to implement a Wi-Fi network in the area.
The network consists of three phases, firstly the implementation of a wireless backbone running from Broadwalk to The Park, Daventry Road, complemented by street level access along the route and thirdly the installation of mesh routers within neighbourhood homes.
This solution forms part of a strategic extension from the existing Street Net (i+Kiosks for the uninitiated) network throughout the city.
The community based Wi-Fi infrastructure is designed to provide a cost effective way of delivering multiple services to the local community and further supports the council’s ongoing commitment to create a socially inclusive city.
We are pleased to say that the backbone and street level access is now up and running and a trial of the mesh routers for individual household access to the Internet, currently involving 4 households is taking place. This trial will enable us to identify issues that need resolution prior to a wider roll out and help us to understand the best way to go about it.
To further complement this connectivity we have created a local “Knowle West” portal of local service information and these services will be presented to each participating user when they log on to the Wi-Fi network. It is intended that any local community partner will be able to deliver their services in a prioritised and directed fashion via this portal.
As previously stated we are in a trial phase and as soon as the trial has been completed, I’ll post further updates here.
