Hi-tech equipment to improve Dorchester’s poor town centre wi-fi signal is being installed and tested.

The contact points, which will offer free wi-fi to visitors and residents comes as a result of a Dorchester Business Improvement District (BID) initiative, working with councils.

Three of the points have just been installed in the Borough Gardens.

The £40,000 scheme will have around 25 points offering a high quality signal for the main shopping areas of South Street, Trinity Street, High West and East Streets, Weymouth Avenue and Borough Gardens. Others areas may also benefit, depending on the signal strength.

Smart phone users will need to log in to use the service, partially supported by what the BID describes as a minimal level of advertising.

The welcome page will signpost information about what is happening locally, historic attractions and facilities such as restaurants and public transport.

BID director Phil Gordon says the scheme has the potential to transform visits to the county town.

He said: “For most people it will be the first time they will be able to successfully use mapping services in the town centre. At the moment you might be able to start a journey using your smart phone to navigate, but because of the problems with the signal, you might not finish it.”

The same has applied for basic searches for attractions, shops and restaurants.

In time the network will have the ability to be used in more intelligent ways – recognising previous users and suggesting businesses or attractions which people might like to visit, possibly even offering rewards for return trips.

Mr Gordon says the BID believes better wi-fi will encourage more people to return to the town.

“The town council and Brewery Square have been extremely helpful which is why these have been the first areas to have the contact points,” said Mr Gordon.

Talks are continuing over other sites but the BID is hopeful of having good town centre coverage by the end of May. Other units may then have to be added. At the moment the scheme is not in public use although recently installed contact points have been tested and are working well.

Dorset County Council has given a grant of £20,000 for the installation costs with further financial help from West Dorset District Council and Brewery Square. Dorchester Town Council put in £5,000 for the town centre work and later added £3,000 to expand it to the Borough Gardens. The annual running costs of around £8,000 will be met by the BID.

Town Council clerk Adrian Stuart said the council had been happy to help finance the project and to find contact point sites on the Borough Gardens House, the tennis court and another adjacent to Cornwall Road.

“The service will make it easier to provide information about facilities and heritage tourism, including up to the moment news about events, making it easier and more attractive for visitors and residents to spend more time in town,” said Mr Stuart.