FREE WiFi will be available outdoors in the city centre and East End of Glasgow in time for the Commonwealth Games.

Glasgow City Council aims to strike a deal with an internet provid-er which will allow residents and visitors to log on for free.

A telecommunica-tions company will be allowed to mount equipment on council buildings and street furniture such as street lights if they provide a free service and set up a Glasgow branded welcome page.

The service would cost the council little and allow the provider to use the equipment to provide paid-for serv-ices such as 4G WiFi.

It will mean anyone can log on to the internet for free from their laptop, tablet or smartphone in the open air in, for example, George Square. In the longer term, it is hoped the free WiFi network will be extended.

Council leader Gordon Matheson said: "This is fantastic news on so many levels.

"It will benefit residents, businesses and visitors to the city, especially as the aim is to have it in place for the 2014 Commonwealth Games and to cover the city centre, the Athletes' Village and the Clyde Gateway areas.

"It will promote economic growth and make a major contrib-ution to the council's ambition to make Glasgow a digitally connected and truly future city.

"The adoption of digital technology will bring environmental benefits, reducing carbon emissions and contributing to a more sustainable Glasgow."

In January, Glasgow beat 29 cities to win £24million in a contest run by the Government's innovation agency the Technology Strategy Board. It outlined how public, private and academic sectors can combine to use tech-nology to enhance day-to-day life in the city.

Glasgow Chamber of Commerce chief executive Stuart Patrick said the free WiFi "fits well with Glasgow's plans to be a city of tomorrow".

vivienne.nicoll@ eveningtimes.co.uk