Free city wifi launched as aql unveils its first ‘Dr Who’ blue phone box
TELECOMMUNICATIONS company aql has begun the roll out of a free broadband service in Leeds by installing the first of 24 restored 1930s phone boxes in the city centre.
The blue painted boxes are ‘recycled’ classic K6 phone boxes – originally designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, who was also the designer of Battersea Power station, Waterloo Bridge and Liverpool Cathedral – and will allow free wifi access to anyone nearby.
The first box was deployed on Leeds Bridge yesterday and the boxes, which house a high bandwith network, are solar powered, avoiding the need to dig up the streets to install electricity and the network.
Observers commented that the blue boxes had a look of the Tardis blue police box from TV series Dr Who and aql’s own Doctor – CEO and founder, Dr Adam Beaumont, said: “We wanted to create an icon for Leeds – something unique which if you had your photo taken next to it and uploaded it, for example, to Facebook, friends would say – ‘aha! you must be in Leeds!’
“We’re hoping that the boxes become something that the residents accept as part of the cityscape.”
He said that Leeds-based aql will look to use the new service to provide broadband internet to businesses in the city.
The boxes are locked because they hold aql’s network equipment, but they will allow users to make phone calls via touch screens on the outside, including 999 calls.
The boxes will also feature an interactive screen allowing users to leave video blogs and messages to share their memories about the area where each box is located.
