Perth's biggest resources companies have teamed up to create a free, wireless internet service in the western end of the CBD, which they have dubbed the city's Resources Quarter.
Perth's biggest resources companies have teamed up to create a free, wireless internet service in the western end of the CBD, which they have dubbed the city's Resources Quarter.
The Chamber of Minerals & Energy said the initiative was designed to foster creativity and connectivity in the Perth CBD.
"A free Internet service like this - which is switched on 24 hours per day, seven days a week - has not been provided on this scale ever before in Australia," said CME chief executive Tim Shanahan.
The ResourcesNet service is sponsored by Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton and Woodside, which have their Perth headquarters in the western end of the CBD.
A CME statement is pasted below
FREE WIRELESS INTERNET SERVICE FOR PERTH'S "RESOURCES QUARTER"
In an Australian first, the resources sector is fostering creativity and connectivity in the Perth CBD by providing free access to the Internet, enabling speed-of-light access to the world's greatest communications tool and its vast stores of knowledge.
The Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CME) ResourcesNet project means anyone in the CBD for business or pleasure and needing short-term access to the Internet, including full time or short-term workers, overseas and
interstate visitors, shoppers and students, can now log on to the Internet at no cost to themselves, according to CME Chief Executive, Tim Shanahan.
"A free Internet service like this - which is switched on 24 hours per day, seven days a week - has not been provided on this scale ever before in Australia," said Mr Shanahan.
The free Wi-Fi Internet service covers a district becoming known as the Resources Quarter because of the number of resources industry companies with offices ther. It includes St Georges Terrace and Hay and Murray Streets west from William Street, up to the Barracks Arch near Parliament House.
Using laptop or PDA, anyone in the Resources Quarter precinct can send and receive email, conduct research or browse the world wide web, download material, watch videos, take part in webcam, and even use Voice-Over-Internet Protocol (VOIP) to talk anywhere in the world.
"ResourcesNet will enable free Internet access, courtesy of the Western Australian resources sector, in a demonstration of the sector's support and commitment to applying the latest technology to benefit the community,"
said Mr Shanahan.
"Internet download speed will be fast enough to make using ResourcesNet a pleasurable experience, and users will be able to download a reasonable amount of web and email material to your laptop computer or PDA."
"We believe ResourcesNet will contribute to invigorating the Perth CBD, enriching the lives of the people who work and visit here."
ResourcesNet is sponsored by Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton and Woodside and managed by the Chamber of Minerals and Energy on behalf of the resources industry of Western Australia.
