VISITORS to Alton can now take advantage of free public wifi in the town centre.

The system, supplied by InTechnology and funded by Alton Town Council and East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) as part of the economic development project for Alton, is designed to provide speedy internet coverage in the open air 24/7 for residents and visitors seeking to log in ‘on the go’.

The free service is available to everyone who has access to either a wifi-enabled laptop, tablet or mobile device in public open spaces around the town centre, including the Market Square and the Public Gardens.

According to the organisers, whether people want to send e-mails, keep in touch on social media, find out details of the next train or bus service, or read the news while sitting in the park having lunch, there will be no time restrictions on use and the log-in process is straightforward and takes a few moments.

To log in, users will need to provide either a valid e-mail address and a few simple details – such as name, gender and age range – or provide their Facebook log-in details, including an ewmail address and password.

At a budgeted cost of £39,000, free town centre wifi is a key objective of Alton Town Council’s marketing and promotion strategy.

Its second objective is “to focus on continuing to enhance the streetscape of Alton town centre, including wayfinding and aesthestics, to encourage more footfall in the High Street as a social interaction space as well as somewhere to shop.”

The first action in this category, highlighted as part of Alton’s entry in this year’s Great British High Street Awards, is the installation of wifi as a way of increasing “dwell time” in the town centre and the Public Gardens.

It is also seen as a means of “encouraging young people to come into town” and is expected to help in the collation of statistical data on footfall in the areas with wifi coverage.

Matthew Bayliss, the leader of Alton Town Council, said: “Free wifi in the town centre was a recommendation from our business development work as well as one of the top suggestions that came out of our survey of young people’s needs which we undertook in 2018.

“This initiative will benefit local businesses, residents and our many visitors, and it is great to have it up and running so early in the new year.”

Natalie Duffield, Intechnology’s chief executive, said she was delighted to be launching Alton’s new wifi service.

“We hope the whole community will thoroughly feel the benefits of Alton’s new connectivity, whether it is used by residents to access local news and information, visitors discovering the local area, or businesses to better promote their goods and services,” she said.

“It’s going to be an exciting partnership.”