The 186,000 citizens of Swindon will receive free Wi-Fi access as part of a Council-led scheme, it has been revealed.
Swindon, in Wiltshire, looks set to become the first UK town to provide free wireless access to its residents, with council officials claiming the technology could be in place by April 2010.
The scheme, a joint effort between Swindon Borough Council and Digital City UK - a new company in which Swindon Borough Council has a 35 per cent share - plans to fit roughly 1,400 secure access points throughout the town under the brand name Signal.
Creating a "Wi-Fi mesh" that offers blanket coverage, the access points are said to be similar to those used in homes, "but with a much higher performance". All residents will be able to connect for free, but are thought to be limited to basic speeds and usage limitations. Faster services - providing speeds of up to 20Mb - will be available on a subscription basis, with a Swindon Borough Council representative suggesting that paid-for services would cost "significantly less per month than major broadband competitors".
Visitors to the town, meanwhile, will be able to access the Signal service on a pay-as-you-go basis. Swindon Borough Council calls it a "groundbreaking partnership which will have real benefits for everyone living in Swindon," adding that Signal will "provide cutting edge services to the areas or individuals who need them".
Whilst Swindon has a history of trying things first - the town voted to scrap speed cameras late last year - Digital City UK hopes that a successful rollout in Swindon will lead to interest from other towns and cities.
