Free wireless broadband access could be rolled out across York in the future under proposals from the local council.

The authority has deployed a city-wide dark fibre network that delivers free fixed and wireless internet provision to all libraries in the area, with plans afoot to expand these services to local parks later this year.

Once this has been completed, the infrastructure will be deployed to businesses and residents in York, before potentially being extended throughout the entire city, reports Search Networking.

Roy Grant, head of information and communications technology at City of York Council (CYC), said all this has been possible thanks to the launch of the dark fibre network, a part of its deal with Pinacl Solutions.

Pinacl, supported by City Fibre Holdings, installed the infrastructure for just under £4.2 million. The remainder of the money from its eight-year, £13.7 million deal with the local authority will be spent on maintenance and the implementation of managed voice and data services.

To date, more than 100 sites across York have been hooked up to the network, while City Fibre has rolled out approximately 100 km of cable.

Mr Grant revealed the end result of the work has surpassed the council's expectations, commenting: "We have a footprint in York now that puts us in the top five or ten councils in the UK in terms of being future-proof.

"Most importantly it has exceeded any upcoming guidelines for school connectivity and will support around 24,000 pupils."

CYC unveiled its plans for the city-wide fibre-based infrastructure back in January 2010, with work on the project getting underway later that month.

At the time, director of sales and marketing at Pinacl Mark Lowe said the company was "very excited" about working with the council, particularly regarding "the ability to look forwards and provide new services and applications". 

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