While not a secret, the revamped and now free service had a quiet launch to remove any issues before it was more widely promoted.
The limited publicity has not stoped tech-savvy users quickly taking up the service.
Usage data from service providers DTS and Smartlinx3 shows within two months of the launch there was more data usage in Jackson Street than the whole of Hutt City Council.
An impressive result considering there are restrictions on downloads to keep the service free for web browsing and emails.
Robert Hutton of the Jackson Street Programme says, “Every day I see people sipping their coffee, looking on their phones. When I first noticed it I could hardly believe it and I’d ask them are you on the web? They’d say 'yes, it’s really cool, there’s free WiFi here.’
“With so many WiFi capable smart phones and computer devices around now it’s only going to get more important for centres to provide WiFi and making it free is a great point of difference for us here in Petone.”
Council and the Jackson Street Programme are now set to improve awareness of the service, strengthen signals in high use areas and build up the business model which at full scale will pay for ongoing data cost through paid advertising.
Investigations are also underway into the feasibility of extending the service to the Hutt City CBD and libraries.