A secure, wireless network covers an area from the railway station to the Council offices including The Pepperpot, Godalming High Street, Bridge Street, the Council offices, part of The Burys fields and Library. The network enables residents, businesses, and visitors to connect laptops, mobile phones, and gaming devices to the Internet from around the town.
With financial assistance from the Surrey Economic Partnership, Connected Surrey Project and from Waverley Borough Council, the scheme is being delivered by technology specialist Nouveau Solutions Ltd whose wireless Head of Division, Gary Hudson said, ‘As a local business, we are keen to give Godalming another first, building on Godalming’s history as the first town with a public electricity supply and the connection with Jack Phillips as the ‘wireless’ operator on the Titanic’.
Cllr Adam Taylor-Smith, Waverley’s portfolio holder for Communications and I.T. launched the pilot by surfing the Council’s new website from the High Street. He said: “Godalming is thought to be the first market town in the UK with a scheme such as this and it means that anybody in the area can make use of free internet access. The one-year pilot allows for testing and customer feedback and if it is successful and there is demand, the scheme could be rolled out to other parts of the Borough. Access to Waverley’s website and council services will be easier than ever.”