Swindon to get free wireless internet

Posted on 17 Nov 2009 at 17:42

Swindon is planning to offer free wireless internet access to all its residents.

Swindon Borough Council, working with private company aQovia under a joint venture called Digital City UK, is going to offer free wireless internet access to all its residents using a town-wide WiFi network. Residents will need a unique access code before they can use the network. Visitors to Swindon will be able to use the WiFi network by purchasing airtime on a pay-as-you-go basis.

The free service will have usage restrictions, but the Council also plans to offer a less-restricted paid-for 20MB/s service. The paid-for service will apparently be cheaper than services from commercial broadband providers and residents will be able to trial the paid-for service for free for three months before deciding whether or not to subscribe.

The speed and restrictions of the free service, as well as the cost of the paid-for service, have yet to be revealed. The network is due to be completed by the end of April 2010, but some residents, such as those in Highworth, should receive service as soon as early December.

The Council will own a 35 per cent stake in Digital City UK. If the venture is a success, Digital City UK plan on offering similar services in other towns across the country. According to Mustafa Arif, director of aQovia, "Digital City's business model is built around subsidising free access with revenues from business and community services that are delivered over our wireless network."

Author: Alan Lu

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