More than 1,000 people have registered to use Chippenham’s free wi-fi service since it was introduced by the town’s Business Improvement District (BID) last October.
The wi-fi can be used by anybody in the town centre and has been instrumental in encouraging users – including residents, businesses and visitors – to browse the BID’s Chippenham Connected website and app giving details of what’s on in the town, including offers and promotions from retailers and businesses. 
The BID was formed in November 2014 to promote Chippenham as a vibrant business centre, bring in more visitors and improve the town for residents.
The free wide bandwidth wi-fi, which is fully funded by the BID, is one of its key schemes, along with free parking after 3pm on Thursdays and three welcome hosts to help make the town centre safer and more welcoming for visitors and residents.
With mobile internet now the dominant way of accessing the internet and public wi-fi increasingly becoming an integral component of forward-looking towns and cities across the UK, the BID board considered it a vital marketing tool for Chippenham.
The BID worked to ensure the launch of the free wi-fi was synchronised with the launch of the Chippenham Connected website and dedicated app.
Chippenham BID board member Michael Bryant said: “We are delighted by the uptake of the service.
“Not only have residents and visitors taken advantage, but also businesses within the town have found it a valuable extension to their own Internet connections and, in one case we know of, an office business has used it as a vital backup when their own connection was down.
“In this way they were able to carry on business activity as normal. This isn’t a use we had anticipated, but we are impressed that the service has delivered this added value to levy payers.”
To access the free wi-fi, visitors to the town centre simply look for the wi-fi name ‘Free-Chip-Wifi’ on their mobile phone, tablet or laptop. The Chippenham Connected Town App is free to download and is available for both Android and Apple devices.
