The Tasmanian Government has assumed a caretaker role in the lead up to election for the Tasmanian House of Assembly. It is important during this time that Tasmanian Government resources are not used to communicate political material. As such, no political or election material will be placed on this site.
Tasmanian Government
Tasmanian Government Free Wi-Fi

How do I connect?

  1. Enable Wi-Fi on your device by turning it on in your device settings
  2. Look up your available Wi-Fi networks on your device
  3. Select TasGov_Free from the list
  4. Accept the terms & conditions
  5. Enjoy 30 minutes free Wi-Fi per location per device

How secure is the TasGov_Free Wi-Fi network?

The Tasmanian Government Free Wi-Fi is offered in partnership with Telstra Air which provides the Wi-Fi infrastructure. The Telstra Air Network is an open and unsecured network.  This openness is what allows the hotspots to be accessible, however it also means that you may want to take some extra precautions when using it to ensure your information is protected.

Data you send over an open network can potentially be intercepted if the application or website doesn’t secure your information before transmitting it from your device to the hotspot.  One way to help protect your security is to always check for the padlock icon in the address bar of your device’s web browser. This helps identify that the website employs a layer of security to help protect your data, such as SSL or HTTPS.

How do I keep safe on public Wi-Fi?

Most public Wi-Fi networks, including Telstra Air, are unencrypted or open and potentially unsafe. When you’re connecting to an open network, check for the padlock icon in the address bar of your device’s web browser.

We recommend that you don’t send or receive personal information or carry out activities like internet banking when using unsecured public Wi-Fi. When you connect to a Wi-Fi network, your device may prompt you to enter a network type (‘home’, ‘work’ or ‘public’). If this happens, always connect as ‘public’ as this will lock down the connection more securely.

How much free time do I get on the network?

30 minutes per device, per location, per day.

Are there any service limitations?

Users of the Government’s free Wi-Fi service are not subjected to download limitations, however the service restricts certain types of traffic generally considered to be bandwidth intensive and not in the spirit of free Wi-Fi. Users are provided with access that is sufficient for browsing the internet, sending and receiving emails and accessing social media platforms. As with all Wi-Fi services, the number of concurrent users and the infrastructure in specific locations will also influence service quality levels. Network management by Telstra includes filtering of prohibited and undesirable content.

I can see the TasGov_Free network, but can't connect to Wi-Fi

Firstly, ensure you have enabled Wi-Fi on your device, then check the TasGov_Free hotspot locations for one near you, and/or move closer to the access point.

My phone keeps connecting to Wi-Fi, but I don't want it to

Navigate to your phone's Wi-Fi settings and "forget" or remove the TasGov_Free network; or disable Wi-Fi on your device.

I think there is something wrong with one of the hotspots

Please let us know where it is by emailing wifi@stategrowth.tas.gov.au. with the address, or GPS coordinates and if possible send us a photo!

Does the network collect any personal data?

The Government is committed to the protection of privacy and personal information of users. Under the terms of the contract in place with Telstra for the Government’s free Wi-Fi service, all user data is held securely by Telstra and its subcontractor Purple Wi-Fi and managed fully in accordance and compliance with all relevant state and national privacy and personal information protection legislation. The only data that Telstra provides to the Government under the contract terms is the number of users at each location, session duration, device or browser type and amount of data used. The Government does not seek identifying information or track users across the network.

Telstra’s Privacy Policy is available here: https://www.telstra.com.au/privacy

Purple Wi-Fi’s end user licence agreement is available here: https://purple.ai/end-user-licence-agreement/

Purple Wi-Fi’s privacy policy is available here: https://purple.ai/end-user-privacy-policy/

Purple Wi-Fi’s cookies policy is available here: https://purple.ai/cookie-policy/

What is the partnership between the Tasmanian Government and Telstra?

As an initiative of Tasmania’s “Growing our Information and Communication Technology Industry” policy, the Government has invested $500 000 and selected Telstra Corporation Ltd (Telstra) to build, own, operate and maintain a free Wi-Fi network for four years (until late 2019), aimed at servicing international tourists visiting Tasmania.

In May 2019, the Government committed $600 000 over four years to “continue the Government’s investment in [the] free public Wi-Fi service”. The service will remain operational until December 2024.