Max Horobo's Open Salon Blog

Swindon to become first UK wi-fi town

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:11:16 -0500

Swindon is to be become Britain’s first “wi-fi town” with free internet access available to all its 186,000 residents.

A £1 million network of 1,400 “access points” similar to the wireless routers installed in millions of homes will be sited at strategic locations around the Wiltshire town. The network is being named the Swindon mesh.

The project was launched today as a partnership between the borough council and two private companies which will recoup their investment by offering upgrades and faster access at a yet to be determined price. However, every Swindon resident will receive free wireless access to all but the highest bandwidth internet sites.

The city which is home to a number of high tech businesses as well as one of the largest Honda car factories in Britain already has the country’s highest broadband take up.

Old Bailey bomber Marian Price arrested over killings at Uls

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:11:41 -0500

Marian Price, who spent years in jail for bombing the Old Bailey in London, has been arrested by police investigating the murder of two soldiers in Northern Ireland in March.

The 55-year-old leading republican was detained by officers in West Belfast, according to republican sources.

A 39-year-old man was also arrested, in Coalisland, east Tyrone, by police investigating the killings, carried out by dissident republicans, outside the Massereene army barracks in Co Antrim.