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Free web access for all in "Digital City"
17 Nov 2009 | 19.17 Europe/London
Free wireless Internet access is being offered everyone living in the Wiltshire town of Swindon. It's a million pound scheme, with the money coming from a mixture of public funds and private enterprise. However, it's emerged there'll be limits on what's available without charge.
Swindon Borough Council says it's going to wrap its 186,000 citizens in a "wireless mesh," based on 1,400 secure access points. The scheme's the brainchild of local businessman Rikki Hunt, who the council have partnered with alongside technology firm aQovia in creating a new company: Digital City UK; the council has a thirty-five per cent share in the venture.
“This is a truly groundbreaking partnership which will have real benefits for everyone living in Swindon," says Rod Bluh, the Leader of Swindon Borough Council. “Not only will residents in the Borough be able to access the internet for free, the Council and its partners will be able to use the technology to provide cutting edge services to the areas or individuals who need them."
When it comes "cutting edge services," there are plans for the new Wi-Fi network to deliver real-time information on electricity usage and even be put to such thrilling uses as street-wide air quality monitoring. It's also been suggested the network it has the potential to carry free voice calls in the future or be used for what's known as "Telemedicine:" remote consultations, examinations and medical procedures involving health professionals. Microsoft have also been signed up to provide anti-virus support, with Google "online services" also a "key feature."
Although it may sound like a philanthropic venture, the Digital City partners are hoping to turn a profit. While basic Wi-Fi access won't cost anything (enough for light web surfing and checking emails), subscribers will be able to shell out for an 20Mbit/s upgrade - though, according to the council, the price will be "significantly less per month than major broadband competitors." There'll also be pay-as-you-go options available to visitors as well.
“Ubiquitous wireless internet is essential to the realisation of a ‘Digital Britain,’" says aQovia director Mustafa Arif. "Sadly the city Wi-Fi hype died out a few years ago with scant examples of any sustainable networks. 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. This innovative partnership demonstrates a viable way forward for other towns and cities.”
While it may be the first time a scheme of this kind has actually made it to market, it's not a totally unique proposition. Back in January Samknows learned that North Tyneside Council was in talks to team up with a major ISP to offer free broadband to all its residents, with low-cost upgrades to higher speeds also being mooted - with the idea that advertising revenue would be the main source of funding. However, with the collapse of the advertising market during the recession it appears this scheme has so far come to nought.
"While others talk, Swindon is delivering a Digital City which will benefit both the public and business communities,” says the man behind the Swindon scheme, Rikki Hunt. "This is a fantastic opportunity for the whole of Swindon creating total social inclusion through our free service."
The new service that'll be operated by Digital City UK will be known as Signal - and Swindon residents can now sign up for updates as to when it'll go live. The first part of the borough to be connected will be Higworth; they're aiming to have the rest up and running by April next year. But with Swindon already having one of the high broadband penetrations in the country, it remains unclear whether the demand for Signal will be strong.
Swindon Borough Council says it's going to wrap its 186,000 citizens in a "wireless mesh," based on 1,400 secure access points. The scheme's the brainchild of local businessman Rikki Hunt, who the council have partnered with alongside technology firm aQovia in creating a new company: Digital City UK; the council has a thirty-five per cent share in the venture.
“This is a truly groundbreaking partnership which will have real benefits for everyone living in Swindon," says Rod Bluh, the Leader of Swindon Borough Council. “Not only will residents in the Borough be able to access the internet for free, the Council and its partners will be able to use the technology to provide cutting edge services to the areas or individuals who need them."
When it comes "cutting edge services," there are plans for the new Wi-Fi network to deliver real-time information on electricity usage and even be put to such thrilling uses as street-wide air quality monitoring. It's also been suggested the network it has the potential to carry free voice calls in the future or be used for what's known as "Telemedicine:" remote consultations, examinations and medical procedures involving health professionals. Microsoft have also been signed up to provide anti-virus support, with Google "online services" also a "key feature."
Although it may sound like a philanthropic venture, the Digital City partners are hoping to turn a profit. While basic Wi-Fi access won't cost anything (enough for light web surfing and checking emails), subscribers will be able to shell out for an 20Mbit/s upgrade - though, according to the council, the price will be "significantly less per month than major broadband competitors." There'll also be pay-as-you-go options available to visitors as well.
“Ubiquitous wireless internet is essential to the realisation of a ‘Digital Britain,’" says aQovia director Mustafa Arif. "Sadly the city Wi-Fi hype died out a few years ago with scant examples of any sustainable networks. 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. This innovative partnership demonstrates a viable way forward for other towns and cities.”
While it may be the first time a scheme of this kind has actually made it to market, it's not a totally unique proposition. Back in January Samknows learned that North Tyneside Council was in talks to team up with a major ISP to offer free broadband to all its residents, with low-cost upgrades to higher speeds also being mooted - with the idea that advertising revenue would be the main source of funding. However, with the collapse of the advertising market during the recession it appears this scheme has so far come to nought.
"While others talk, Swindon is delivering a Digital City which will benefit both the public and business communities,” says the man behind the Swindon scheme, Rikki Hunt. "This is a fantastic opportunity for the whole of Swindon creating total social inclusion through our free service."
The new service that'll be operated by Digital City UK will be known as Signal - and Swindon residents can now sign up for updates as to when it'll go live. The first part of the borough to be connected will be Higworth; they're aiming to have the rest up and running by April next year. But with Swindon already having one of the high broadband penetrations in the country, it remains unclear whether the demand for Signal will be strong.