This article is being typed in the QVM Food Court courtesy of
free Government wi-fi. The State Government announced "Australia's largest
free public Wi-Fi network" this week with Queen Victoria Market one of the
first to go live. The Government is spending $6.7m over 5 years and as our spot
check showed today the availability at QVM has its limitations.
In fact the official blurb says "The first three sites to go live are the Queen
Victoria Market (Queen Street/Victoria Street entrance)". That
reference to the entrance at cnr Queen and Victoria streets is relevant because
wi-fi in the Food Court is excellent and the signal extends back along Queen
St. towards Therry St. but disappears as soon as your step under the sheds in
the top end or enter the Diary Hall.
Public wi-fi is an essential component of our market as the
influence of communication and particularly social media gains ground (see our
article earlier this week on the significant contribution of wi-fi to
Canberra's Floriade festival). Hopefully the rollout will soon extend to the
rest of our market so all our customers (and the traders they support) can
enjoy its benefits.