'Complexity' delays free Sydney wireless network

The NSW Government's plans to deliver a free wireless network trial for Sydney will be delayed due to complexities in sourcing a suitable network provider.

Sydney-siders and residents of the greater metropolitan area will have to wait for the promised free network because of the "diversity and complexity of responses" to the NSW Government's tender for a wireless network provider.

A spokesperson for the NSW Department of Commerce said "it is taking longer than anticipated" to evaluate the expressions of interest.

The NSW government's plans are being made in consultation with the City of Sydney Council.

"We've had a role to play in the evaluation process, so we'd be informed if anything was going ahead because we're participating," a spokesperson for the Council told ZDNet Australia.

"There's an indication with all of these sorts of projects that we'd like to start as soon as possible, but at this stage we're still waiting for the word from the Department of Commerce," said the Council's spokesperson.

The delay follows reports that the now Channel 7 controlled wireless network provider, Unwired is a leading candidate to supply the CBD network.

The government expects to make an announcement about the selection of a network provider soon, said the spokesperson for the NSW Department of Commerce.