Yorkshire County Cricket Club (YCCC) has signed a 10-year contract with intechnologyWiFi for the delivery of free WiFi coverage across Headingley Cricket Ground, providing fans with access to free, high-speed internet to enhance their match-day experience.

The announcement comes following the start of YCCC’s County Championship campaign last month, and with the First Investec Test Match between England and Sri Lanka taking place at Headingley, 19–23 May.

The WiFi will be completely free to use, without requirements for payment details or restrictions on time, and the network will allow fans open access to browse the internet, post on social media, follow the game online or check for updates on the weather.

intechnologyWiFi, based in nearby Harrogate, North Yorkshire, agreed a major deal with The Football League in March to provide stadium WiFi connectivity and mobile applications to clubs across its portfolio, and will install and operate the WiFi network at 17,250 capacity Headingley on behalf of YCCC.

The WiFi network area will cover all the main seating areas across the ground (with the exception of the Main Stand, due to ongoing development work), concourses and key internal hospitality areas.

The hardware has already been installed at Headingley and is currently being tested/optimised ahead of a busy summer of fixtures, starting with the England vs. Sri Lanka Test Match 19–23 May, which is expected to attract sell-out crowds.

The high-speed WiFi network had a fittingly high-speed ceremonial launch at Headingley on 7 May, when YCCC Chairman, Steve Denison, kitted up to face a blistering over from Yorkshire and England fast bowler, Liam Plunkett.

That Peter Wilkinson, CEO, Intechnology plc (the holding company for intechnologyWiFi), was ‘umpiring’ Plunkett’s over was no coincidence – Wilkinson had insisted that his old friend Denison be put through his paces at the wicket as a term of the WiFi contract.