Free Wi-Fi in York
York offers extensive free Wi-Fi coverage through the
CityConnect Free Wi-Fi initiative, providing 24/7 access across the city. This service supports a range of online activities, including:
- Smartphones and social media
- General web browsing
- Streaming services
To access CityConnect Free Wi-Fi, users can log in via social media or complete a simple online registration form. This high-quality network is indispensable for both residents and visitors, making York the largest city in the UK with an integrated city centre and transport Wi-Fi.
York is also the first city to receive ‘child-friendly Wi-Fi’ accreditation, which is certified by Digital Friendly Wi-Fi. This ensures that inappropriate adult content is automatically blocked, making the internet safer for children.
Expanding Digital Connectivity in York
York’s digital landscape has seen millions of pounds of investment from both public and private sectors, significantly improving connectivity for residents and businesses. The ambition is to make York the first truly ‘gigabit city’, which not only attracts investment and creates jobs but also enhances the city’s appeal as a business destination and a desirable place to live.
Ultrafast Broadband Initiatives
York is focused on facilitating Full Fibre connections using fibre-to-the-premise (FTTP) or fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) technology, aligning with the government’s commitment to deliver faster broadband to 99% of premises by 2030. Several network providers are involved in this effort:
CityFibre: Their network covers almost every premise in York, including major roads like Gillygate. They continuously add national and local ISPs to their network.
Virgin Media O2 (VMO2): Expanded their ultrafast network in southwest York, including Bishopthorpe, The Mount, and Tadcaster Road. Their services include Gig2 broadband, offering speeds up to 2 Gigabits per second (Gbps).
Openreach: Planning to upgrade approximately 40,000 premises to Full Fibre broadband by 2026. Their services will be available through ISPs like BT.
Quickline Communications: Awarded a contract to roll out Full Fibre broadband to over 28,000 rural homes across West Yorkshire and York as part of Project Gigabit.
Fusion Fibre Group: Delivering Full Fibre services in rural locations like Elvington, Wheldrake, and Stockton on the Forest.
UK Fibre Networks (UKFN): Committed to connecting 8,000 premises within York’s city walls by 2025, with current rollouts in areas like Gillygate.
Project Gigabit and Rural Broadband
Project Gigabit, a government-funded programme, supports the deployment of Full Fibre in hard-to-reach areas. York is part of this initiative, with Quickline Communications awarded a contract to upgrade approximately 4,000 premises. The Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS) allows eligible rural communities to collaborate with broadband providers to deliver gigabit-capable broadband.
York is one of six local authorities delivering superfast broadband to rural areas in partnership with West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Broadband Delivery UK, and BT Openreach.
For more information or to stay updated, visit the
Digital York website or email
[email protected].