UK's first WiFi town: Swindon to offer free wireless internet access to all

Until now it has been a town probably best known for its innovative approach to roundabouts.

But Swindon has unveiled plans which could make it a technological front runner by giving wireless internet access to every single one of its residents - for free.

The £1million project to build a 'WiFi Mesh' aims to provide blanket wi-fi coverage using a network of 'internet access points' at 1,400 locations.

magic roundabout

Swindon, known for its 'magic' roundabout, may soon be viewed as an internet pioneer

The Wiltshire town's 186,000 residents are currently responsible for more internet broadband usage per capita than anywhere else in the UK.

Providing the service for free will be funded by a mixture of public and private money, with a view to eventually making a profit when residents go on to subscribe to faster, paid-for access.

Most of the 1,400 access points, which are the size of burglar alarms and weigh 2kg (4.4lbs) will be fitted to the top of lamp posts around Swindon borough.

They will be similar to internet routers used in homes 'but with a much higher performance' and multi-linked to each other so that if one breaks down or stops working, the connection is not broken.

Line rental will be free and there is no connection charge for the service which could also provide households with information on home electricity usage and air quality monitoring.

The mesh has the potential to provide free internet phone-calls which could lead to savings for health care professionals.

There will also be pay-as-you-go options so visitors to the town can also use the network.

The WiFi project will be run by Digital City UK Ltd, of which Swindon Borough Council has a 35 per cent share. It will work on similar roll-outs of the technology in other towns and cities across the UK.

Chief Executive of Digital City UK, Rikki Hunt said they had no health concerns about the wireless technology.

'The radio masts are fastened to the top of lampposts,' he told the Mail Online.

'These 'speak' to each other creating a sort of mesh or dome. When a resident taps into this dome they are exposed to less radiation than when they press a mobile to their ear.'

Four years in the planning, the scheme was yesterday described by Swindon Borough Council leader Rod Bluh as 'groundbreaking'.

He said: 'A lot of work has been going on to bring this plan to fruition. It's important because both residents and businesses can benefit.

'Swindon is the first town in the country to be delivering this and we are also the highest town in the country for broadband usage.

'This is the icing on the cake and really brings us to another level. We are immensely proud of what we are able to achieve.

'This is the future of England we are talking about and we are getting in on the front foot.'


Other interesting facts about Swindon...

1. Liam Gallagher named his band Oasis after the leisure centre in Swindon

2. Diana Dors and Billie Piper were born here

3. When character Dave Lister was asked what death was like in the TV series Red Dwarf he replied: 'Have you ever been to Swindon?'

4. Swindon station had the first railway refreshment rooms in 1842

5. The Magic Roundabout consists of five mini-roundabouts in a circle. It is one of the most feared junctions in Britain according to several surveys

Installation will begin in the Highworth area early next month and it is hoped the whole town will benefit from wi-fi by the end of April next year.

Swindon residents today welcomed the planned introduction of free wi-fi to the town.

Amy Morris, 24, who works as a purchaser for a high street store, said: 'I use the internet every day and always check my e-mails.

'It's great we are taking the lead. We will have to wait and see how fast it is, but even if it is slow you can't complain because it's free.'

Graham Philips, 53, said: 'It's obviously a pretty good deal for everybody.

'There's a lot of computer use in Swindon - even my father has one so it will certainly be good for him.'

ref: dailymail.co.uk