Torquay Town Centre Digital Street Hubs Could Spread Across Devon

Towns and cities across the UK are continually seeking new ways to advance and develop. Convenient access to fast internet connections and ways to charge up smartphones are increasingly desirable and seen as appealing installations. This is the view that Devon’s own Torquay is taking, looking to install new digital street hubs.

Bringing Convenient Digital Connections to Torquay and Beyond

Around Torquay’s town centre, three new digital boards might be going up. These ‘street hubs’ will enable people to make free phone calls, connect to ultra-fast Wi-Fi, charge their phones, see advertisements, and get local information. They work as convenient, all-in-one public service devices.

For now, the application from BT is to put up three of these 3m tall street hubs. One would go up outside the Subway by Tor Hill House, enabling the sandwich shop customers to enjoy rapid internet in-store. Then, McDonalds and Primark on Union Street look primed to get a street hub, too.

While some have voiced their concern that these digital hubs will cause more clutter on the high street, in theory, they’ll serve an important service. Overall, Devon has struggled for high-quality mobile internet. EE has been a pretty reliable provider of 5G coverage, but across the county, it’s only really Three that offer something.

Earlier this year, even Ipplepen, near Newton Abbot, was given a new high-speed internet mast to deliver 5G coverage. Given our increased reliance on enjoying a digital lifestyle, convenient and quick public internet and charging could be very appealing beyond Torquay.

A Need for Better Internet Across Devon

Whether we’re on the go for work, taking a lunch break out in the city or town, or heading out for some entertainment, the chances are, we’ll be relying on an internet connection and a digital offering. Entertainment apps and online platforms have taken over, to the extent that Netflix scoops up over £1 billion in revenue from the UK alone each year.

It’s not just Netflix that we turn to on our phones and laptops at home and while on the go, though. Music streaming apps are perpetually popular, as are the myriad of online gaming sites. In particular, those that present themselves as a slingo casino with the newest games offer enough variety to appeal to any potential player.

From the Greek mythology game Slingo Thunder of the Gods to classics like Slingo Fire & Ice or Book of Slingo, just a few taps can get anyone looking for a bit of fun to the whole collection of these creative new digital games. Having far faster and accessible internet near places we can sit and relax, like cafes on the high street, would naturally help people to enjoy digital entertainment during their downtime or lunch breaks.

Going out while not relying on smartphones, tablets, or laptops, many still gravitate to the digital experience offerings. Exeter’s The VRVE remains a highly-rated hit in the city. Here, you get immersed in virtual reality experiences, from simulating flights to trying to escape a haunted room.

Given our current and increasing reliance on digital connections, Torquay’s new street hubs look set to be incredibly useful. If they land in the streets as well as they do on paper, they could spread across Devon.