There is a plan to roll out free wireless internet across central Adelaide by the end of next year.

A feasibility study has been done and firm proposals are being sought from information technology businesses.

The South Australian Government will contribute $1 million for the project and Adelaide City Council will put in half as much.

SA Premier Jay Weatherill said the coverage would be in public areas such as Rundle Mall, Victoria Square and the Riverbank precinct.

"We want to project the image of Adelaide being a modern, progressive city and to do that you've got to have the latest technology," he said.

"This will give us the real edge on any other capital city in the nation because we want to attract more people into the city and this is how you get public life, you give people the opportunities to do the things they need to do in public spaces."

Mr Weatherill said there were similar public wi-fi networks in cities including Singapore, Auckland, Wellington, Prague, Chattanooga and Luxembourg.

"We are already running a 12-month trial of free wi-fi on all Adelaide Metro trams and 20 buses," the Premier said.

Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood said the project would complement an existing network which offered free wi-fi connection at more than 100 businesses in the city's cafe areas.