Free wireless internet to be offered in Swindon

Residents in Swindon are to have access to free wireless broadband services as the result of a Wi-Fi 'mesh' that could provide better use of VoIP solutions.

The new resource will be paid for using £1 million sourced from both public and private funds and all 186,000 Swindon residents will have access, reports the Gazette & Herald.

Rikki Hunt, former chairman of Swindon Town, originally suggested the idea and it has been realised by creating a new company called Digital City UK with the help of Swindon borough council and technology firm aQovia.

Rod Bluh, Swindon borough council leader, told the paper: "This is a truly groundbreaking partnership which will have real benefits for everyone living in Swindon."

The service, rolled out under the brand name Signal, will be free of charge and offer limited usage, while users will be able to pay below market rates for faster connection speeds of up to 20 megabits per second.

Wireless broadband networks are being considered as one way to provide faster connections to rural communities where laying fibre optic cabling is deemed too expensive.