It may take some time, but the Port Authority is looking to install free wi-fi at three Port Authority facilities on St. John.
The Port Authority is currently soliciting businesses to provide “free and affordable” wi-fi at the passenger ferry, car barge and National Park Service docks. The catch, however, is that the free wi-fi won’t be super fast, but users will have the option of purchasing a faster connection for a fee.
According to the request for proposal, the wi-fi must not cost the Port Authority a penny. The minimum access speed for the free version must be at least 1.5Mbps while the fee-based service must have a minimum bandwidth of at least 5Mbps. The faster, fee-based option will allow video streaming while the free version will not. The wi-fi has to meet the needs of all users, which is great, and must be available 24/7 – also great. Lastly, the Port Authority needs to make a profit off of it. Hmmm…
The Port Authority is also looking to install wi-fi at the Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas, as well as the Red Hook and Charlotte Amalie Port Authority facilities.
Bids are due at the beginning of September and a contract is expected to be awarded in October. That begs a question of the day – when do you think this will actually be in place by?
It should be ready about the same time Centerline Hole-in-the Road gets repaired.