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Newcastle and Gateshead councils terminate contract with Wi-Fi provider GOWEX

Newcastle City Council and Gateshead Council has terminated their contract with Madrid-based wifi provider Gowex following its filing for bankruptcy in July.

The contract was signed as part of the government-funded Go Digital Newcastle project, which is bringing superfast broadband to the region as well as setting up Wi-Fi hotspots in public locations.

The councils signed the contract for the Wi-Fi element of the initiative in May, but GOWEX hit difficulties in July following alleged irregularities with its accounts.

The councils are now in search of a new Wi-Fi provider.

Cllr Michael Johnson, Newcastle City Council Deputy Cabinet Member for Skills, Business and Enterprise, said: “GOWEX - which had a strong record for providing Wi-Fi in cities around the world - was chosen after a most rigorous selection procedure, but its financial difficulties could not have been foreseen,” he said.

“However, while this has caused our Wi-Fi plans a setback in time, we are now working to select a new provider who can fulfil our stringent conditions.

“Providing people in Newcastle and Gateshead with free public Wi-Fi will help in our campaign to become one of the best-connected areas in the UK.

“Go Digital Newcastle is making superfast broadband available across the city, which will bring huge boosts to businesses, helping them reach their customers more effectively, and to residents.”

For more information about Go Digital Newcastle, visit www.godigitalnewcastle.co.uk,

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .