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Entire UK town to have free Wi-Fi

updated 04:45 pm EST, Tue November 17, 2009

Swindon, UK residents to get free Wi-Fi access

Swindon Borough Council is planning on offering free Wi-Fi to the entire population of its town by April of next year, says a Tuesday report. The UK town's 186,000 residents will not have to pay any connection charges or subscription fees for the service, due to be called Signal. The project will cost the equivalent of about $1.68 million and is run by newly formed Digital City UK Ltd, 35 percent of which is owned by Swindon's city council.

The free service will offer speeds up to 20Mbps, though paid tiers will be offered which will bump these speeds in exchange for a fee that is said to be significantly less than those offered by conventional broadband providers.

To blanket the city with a Wi-Fi signal, the service will include some 1,400 secure access points. Signal will also allow for free Internet-based phone calls and remote medical consultations. Anti-virus software and often accessed web-based services from Microsoft and Google will be available on the city network as well.

If successful and popular, Digital City UK hopes to expand the Signal service to other UK cities.

 
Previous Comments

how is it paid for ?

11/17, 05:03pm reply

Sounds good but how is it paid for ? ads ,taxes, fees.
The money has to come from somewhere.

LGgeek

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Sep 2009

+3

Paid for? Srsly?

11/17, 05:41pm reply

That's a fair amount of up-front infrastructure cost.

Personally, I wouldn't do any banking over that network.

danviento

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Dec 2005

+1

Venice, Italy was first

11/17, 06:10pm reply

Venice launched free Wifi in July already:
http://www.muniwireless.com/2009/07/06/venice-italy-muni-wireless-network/
http://www.veniceconnected.com/veniceconnected-wireless-internet-connection-service

vanderbeeken

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 2009

+2

Commies

11/17, 08:52pm reply

Those damned socialists. Pooling their resources to build wasteful things like 'free' wireless. For sure, they're gonna use commie tactics and eavesdrop on all traffic. Our providers would never do that. What'll the RIAA have to say. Kinda like those same Brits forcing everyone to pay for their socialistic medical system. I know I don't want to pay for some else to get well. Just me me me.

WalterC

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jul 2008

+3

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