Connect to Wi-Fi
For organizations
For organizationsSecure guest Wi-Fi access for everyone; the City of Rotterdam shows it’s possible
Digital literacy is a priority for the City of Rotterdam. Access to the internet is indispensable for this. Rotterdam is demonstrating that it is possible to offer all residents free and secure internet access at hundreds of locations across the city.
Making Rotterdam residents more digitally skilled is a priority for the municipality. Access to the internet is indispensable for this. That is why the city, together with partners such as the Port Authority, Library Rotterdam, and welfare organizations, is creating a network of free, secure, and connected Wi-Fi networks.
Participating fully in digital society
To fully participate in digital society, you need three things: (1) a device, (2) good digital skills, and (3) a secure internet connection. To meet that last requirement, Rotterdam is focusing on secure Wi-Fi access via Publicroam.
Yvon Koomen is the digital skills project leader at the City of Rotterdam. She says: ‘Publicroam is secure and user-friendly. That’s why, as a municipality, we encourage other parties to join. This makes the network grow larger and larger. Soon, every Rotterdam resident will have Publicroam nearby.’
Securely connected in the Port of Rotterdam
Rotterdam and the port are inextricably linked. So it’s no surprise that Publicroam can be found here too. Gert-Jan de Vries from the Port of Rotterdam Authority says: ‘We receive many national and international visitors at our office and at Portlantis and Port Pavilion. That’s why we wanted to facilitate good and secure Wi-Fi access. We quickly arrived at Publicroam.
It is an extra advantage that this is a national network. If you have the Publicroam app and you walk into a city hall, library, or a theater, you are immediately on secure Wi-Fi. We see that ease of use and reliability as a big plus.’
Facts:
- There are 300+ places in Rotterdam where visitors connect to Publicroam automatically. This number continues to grow.
- Portlantis receives about 150,000 visitors annually and also makes Publicroam available on the bus and on the tour boat.
Sign up once in the library
Myrthe Rensen is Digital Program Manager at Library Rotterdam (23 branches). Thanks to the Digital Inclusion program, Publicroam has been implemented in the various branches. She says: “You only have to sign up once and then you log in automatically at locations with Publicroam. For some users, signing up is a small hurdle, but we can provide good support with that.”
Because more and more organizations are joining, an ever-growing network of secure Wi-Fi is being created in the city. And that is a prerequisite for digital assistance to Rotterdam residents. We try to play a role in this by bringing supply and demand together.’
“Free, secure and easy”
‘If people are hesitant about using Publicroam, I have only one piece of advice: do it! It’s free. It’s secure. And it’s easy. I think it’s great that this is becoming available in more and more places, because secure internet is important.’ – Harold Gemert (71), Rotterdam resident
“We are making the city digitally accessible for everyone”
Internet access is just as important nowadays as access to transport, sports, or public facilities. With Publicroam, we ensure that Rotterdam residents can be online securely and easily in more and more places. This is how we make the city digitally accessible for everyone.
— Alderman Achbar, Welfare, Coexistence, Sport and Digital Inclusion
About Publicroam
Publicroam is a Dutch initiative that securely and automatically connects visitors of public locations to Wi-Fi networks. Users sign up once for free and then connect automatically at all participating locations — from municipalities, libraries, and museums to schools, ports, and cultural institutions. There are already more than 570,000+ people using the network.
Contact
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