Free public Wi-Fi

Our free public Wi-Fi service is available to everyone and offers free access to the internet at town centre outdoor areas and public buildings.

We expanded and upgraded our Wi-Fi service to improve the speed of connection and provide availability at many more council buildings. This includes:

• libraries and leisure centres
• community halls
• schools
• care homes
• sheltered housing complexes.

Where to access free public Wi-Fi

Free public Wi-Fi is available in outdoor areas such as Paisley, Johnstone and Renfrew town centres.

The service is in addition to the customer Wi-Fi available in many of the shops, cafes and restaurants in Renfrewshire's town centres.

See where our free public Wi-Fi service is available:

Please contact the building directly to find out if the service is available there. 

The service is also available on Street Stuff buses and the Skoobmobile mobile library at various locations around Renfrewshire.

How to connect to free public Wi-Fi

To connect to our free public Wi-Fi:

1. turn on Wi-Fi in your laptop, tablet or mobile device settings
2. look for "Renfrewshire Public Wi-Fi" or "Renfrewshire Public Wi-Fi WPA3" in your list of available networks. Only the WPA3 network provides a level of wireless encryption
3. select Renfrewshire Public Wi-Fi and wait for the pop-up window or device notification
4. if it's your first time accessing, accept the terms and conditions and click the 'connect to' button.

There is no contract to sign, and we will not ask you for payment details when logging on or using the service.

What you can do once connected

Once you’ve connected to our free public Wi-Fi service, you can take advantage of ‘on-the-go’ connectivity in our town centre outdoor areas or public buildings, such as:

•  accessing council services online
• accessing public services online, such as NHS 24
• using social media and email
• reading about news and local events
• checking traffic, transport, and weather
• online shopping.

There’s no restriction on how long you can connect to the free public Wi-Fi in outdoor public areas or while buildings are open. 

While no time limits apply, you must comply with the fair usage policy to help ensure the network remains available and performs well for everyone. You may also be required to re-accept the Wi-Fi terms and conditions periodically to maintain access to the service.

Connection speed is shared and will vary depending on:

• how far you are from a Wi-Fi access point
• what type of device you are using
• how many people are using the service
• the types of applications people are using.

Data and security

When using our public Wi-Fi service, the device information we collect is the MAC (Media Access Control) address of your wireless interface, but we do not collect any other personal data. 

We use this information to:

• enable and manage the connection
• maintain network security
• prevent misuse or fraud
• troubleshoot technical issues
• comply with legal and regulatory obligations.

We will not disclose this information to any third party. Find out more about how we look after personal information with our privacy policy.

Our Wi-Fi service complies with the Digital Economy Act 2017 (UK Government website).

We use technologies to make sure the network is resilient. For ease of connection, it is an unsecured network. This means you can connect to it without needing to enter a password.

We use technology to keep our Wi-Fi service reliable and available. 

For ease of access, this network does not require a password, so you can connect quickly and easily. 

Although no password is needed, our WPA3 network does provide a level of wireless encryption to protect data transmitted between your device and the Wi-Fi access point. This helps to keep your connection secure while you use the service. 

This type of network is often called an "open network". You should take care when inputting confidential information, such as your credit card details, when using the free public Wi-Fi service. Make sure you trust the security of the website (for example, a shop or banking website or App) you are connecting to.

You can check if a website or link is a scam, phishing, or legit at Get Safe Online’s Check a website.

For security measures: 

• the service is monitored and filtered for security and legal compliance  
• users must not attack devices, networks or services.  
• malware distribution, unauthorised access and other unlawful activity are prohibited  
• access may be blocked or suspended where misuse or a security threat is detected 
• we may cooperate with lawful investigations
• public Wi‑Fi users should not assume the network is confidential or inherently secure.  
• users are responsible for protecting their devices and using encrypted websites or other appropriate protection. 

For more information about online security, visit the Get Safe Online website. 

We use a filter to block content which could be considered a risk to the network or inappropriate to access over a public service. The network is Internet Watch Foundation compliant (Internet Watch Foundation website).

How to provide feedback

If you have any issues using the free public Wi-Fi service, contact our public Wi-Fi helpline by phoning 0344 848 9555. Calls cost standard network rates.