This is part of the Council's Digital Street Markets project, which is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
The project directly responds to feedback from traders and their customers as part of the 12-week markets consultation that took place in 2018. Both traders and their customers expressed the need for wi-fi connectivity to increase the online presence of the market and to facilitate card payments.
The council is working with wireless infrastructure-as-a-service provider Ontix to roll out the Wi-Fi connectivity in these areas. Berwick Street, Maida Hill, Church Street, Strutton Ground and Tachbrook Street are now live with Rupert Street expected to go live in the next couple of weeks.
The introduction of free, reliable Wi-Fi will improve the reliability of point of sale devices as well as improving customer experience through free Wi-Fi publicly accessible while browsing the markets.
The Digital Street Markets project will also deliver digital training so market traders can ask any questions enabling them to maximise benefits from the enhanced connectivity, and ensure their businesses are digitally enabled. The training will include practical workshops which cover topics such as creating a website, developing digital marketing channels, and adding businesses to Google Maps, with the goal of improving revenues for traders by reaching a wider audience.
Cllr Paul Swaddle, Cabinet Member for Finance and Smart City, said: "Westminster City Council wants to provide every possible support for our businesses and local communities across our city, and the rollout of this free Wi-Fi service is just one of the ways we are providing a digitalised springboard for our treasured street markets.
"Businesses need an online presence more than ever and that includes market traders. By providing this next-generation Wi-Fi service and securing digital connectivity, we are investing in our markets to allow traders to reach a new and wider customer-base, while enhancing the experience for our communities and visitors too. This investment renews our commitment to our markets and will help to secure the future of these historic trading hubs by increasing digitalisation, for many more years to come."
Leanne, owner of Leanne's Flowers, which has been trading from a pitch on the corner of Berwick and Broadwick Street in the heart of Soho for over 20 years had the following to say about the Berwick Street Wi-Fi offer: "The Wi-Fi is a great addition to the market and is helping lots of us to get online and change the way we take payments post Covid. It is also a free service which saves us using our own data allowances".
