Setting up Wi-Fi in downtown areas is the fashion these days and Charleston, South Carolina is making sure they’re not left behind. You can get Wi-Fi access in almost a dozen downtown locations and in Marion Square. Setting up Wi-Fi in downtown areas is the fashion these days and Charleston, South Carolina is making sure they’re not left behind. You can get Wi-Fi access in almost a dozen downtown locations and in Marion Square.
The Charleston Chamber of Commerce is paying for the deployment, but unlike other cities, they are charging for access: the hourly rate is $3 (or $8 per day, $15 per week or $30 per month). You can buy the access cards at participating locations or the Chamber of Commerce.
Although it is unlikely that the availability of downtown Wi-Fi will lure tech businesses into the area, it will make life easier for people attending convention visitors, tourists and visiting business people. Like other cities that have deployed public access Wi-Fi, Charleston’s move is a PR exercise although one which is popular among several downtown area businesses that have already signed up as participants.
Rumour has it that downtown Charleston is getting a free WiFi cloud, with an unofficial rollout around 25 March 2006. (Source: Charleston City Paper, 22 March 2006)