Ross-on-Wye has started up its own free wi-fi service – probably the first market town in the country to do so.
It was the first market town in the country to get broadband, and is also unusual for a small market town in having its own internet service provider, Wyenet.
“Ross is a dynamic town, and very much in the forefront of this technological progress,” said Brian Atherton, who gave a presentation on ‘Ross-on-Wi-Fi’ to the annual town meeting at the Larruperz Centre in Ross on Monday night.
The free wi-fi service, already operating, covers all the shopping streets in Ross, and the river bank from the Hope and Anchor pub almost as far as Ross Rowing Club.
“It covers most of the leisure area of the river bank, and all the town centre shopping streets,” said Mr Atherton.
The scheme was originally a Ross Chamber of Commerce project. When it reached the stage when money was an issue, Advantage West Midlands stepped in with a £25,000 grant from the Better Welcome project, which offers £25,000 grants for programmes to encourage tourism.
“The Ross wi-fi scheme qualified, we have received the funding, we have spent it, the installations are in place and the system is now up and running,” said Mr Atherton.
Wi-fi is wireless networking technology that uses radio waves to provide wireless high-speed internet and network connections. It works with no physical wired connection between sender and receiver. The computer picks up a broadcast radio signal.
Wi-fi is supported by many applications and devices, including video game consoles, home networks, PDAs, mobile phones, major operating systems, and other electronics.
The Ross network consists of a series of wireless broadband boxes around the town. If any part of it goes down, the rest will keep going, Mr Atherton said.
The service is free for the first hour. After that, you get an option to pay for extra time using a credit card.
“The intention is to put a number of useful things on the system,” said Mr Atherton.
“The most important will be the local tourism package. The information will relate to exactly where you are in the town.
“We will also have our own information packages giving details of such things as the accommodation available at hotels and bed-and-breakfasts and on leisure activities, what’s on, and so on.
“It is angled strongly towards the youth sector. Children here on holiday will be impressed and think Ross the hottest place around, and encourage their parents to come back.
“I think Ross is the first market town in the country to have this. We are really at the forefront. The £25,000 grant has made it possible, and ongoing running costs will be met by voluntary efforts and sponsors.”
