Don’t worry about using too much data while lounging on the beach this summer in Seaside Heights. A beach and boardwalk Wifi system will likely be in place in time for Memorial Day, officials said recently.
Seaside Heights will deploy the Wifi network through a third party contractor that will install all of the hardware for free, said Borough Administrator Christopher Vaz. In exchange, the Wifi provider is allowed to insert advertising upon login, from which the borough will receive 10 percent of the revenue.
Had the borough installed its own Wifi infrastructure, it would have cost $440,000, Vaz said.
Originally, the anticipated launch date was near the Fourth of July, but since the borough was able to award a contract earlier than expected, the network could be up and running within the next month.
“There’s a very good chance of having it installed, if not Memorial Day weekend, soon thereafter,” Vaz said.
Mayor Anthony Vaz said not only will the Wifi network bring the boardwalk into the Internet era, it will provide an extra layer of safety, since the network can be used to send emergency messages such as a report of a missing child.