Lafayette offers free Wi-Fi downtown

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - City leaders in Lafayette say just bring the latte and they'll provide the Wi-Fi.

Thursday morning, Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski and other city officials announced some good news for tech savvy residents.

Whether you want to check your email or work online while having lunch, grab your smart phones and other electronic devices and head to downtown Lafayette where you can now stay connected to the rest of the world for free.

"We're keeping up. We're able to make ourselves marketable and attractive," Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski said.

The project between the city and Wintek Corporation now brings free Wi-Fi service at five access points downtown along Main Street from Riehle Plaza to 10th Street.

"The city provided the actual hardware and Wintek is actually providing the internet service for free. It's a hundred megabit system so it is very fast and very good and we're very excited," Mayor Tony Roswarski said.

" Wireless provides the freedom to move around," CEO of Wintek, Travis Bailey said. "Today the internet is used for everything from business to personal."

But even besides the personal luxury of having free Wi-Fi downtown, city leaders say free Wi-Fi says "Welcome" in today's world.

"Now when a company comes to town, whether they're looking to come to Main Street or located in the Greater Lafayette area, now we can sell them the concept that anywhere on Main Street or close by you can have access to the world," CEO of Greater Lafayette Commerce, Joe Seaman said.

The city spent $14,000 for the equipment. Window stickers will be provided to businesses so their customers will know they can access free Wi-Fi service.

There are two access points at Riehle plaza and three along Main Street, at Third, Sixth and Ninth streets.

All of those access points are up and running.