FREE WiFi is now available at intu Lakeside, allowing shoppers to keep up-to-date with the latest news, check sports scores, update social networks and even stream video on the go. After laying 1200km of fibre optic cable, installing 183 antennas and testing the network for three weeks, shoppers can now surf while they shop at intu Lakeside – and it won’t cost them a penny.
With the introduction of free WiFi, boyfriends can stream the latest goals to their mobile while waiting outside the changing rooms, teenagers can ‘check in’ on Facebook and upload pictures of their new purchases and everyone can Google a new hair style or outfit whilst enjoying a cup of coffee.
Intu’s research indicates that almost half of UK internet users make use of the internet at some stage of the shopping process and that the traditional boundaries of online and offline shopping experiences are becoming more blurred.
Intu is the UK’s first landlord to install a fully owned fibre optic network for its shopping centres. The investment will deliver high quality, high speed WiFi throughout the whole centre that shoppers can use for free whenever they visit – without having to register each and every time.
Izzie Peskett, intu Lakeside’s Marketing Manager, said: “Shopping habits have moved on incredibly quickly over the last few years and will continue to do so. By investing in our infrastructure, we are ensuring that we are prepared for the future and for how shopping habits will develop over the coming years.”
Are you ready to surf and shop simultaneously?
