People can now use free Wi-Fi in downtown North Augusta

Friday, Oct. 28, 2016 News 12 NBC 26 at 6 O'Clock

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) -- As more people head downtown, North Augusta wants to give them more access and keep people in the downtown.

"For some time city council has been focusing on downtown and today is a great announcement that we think will boost business for everyone in our downtown," North Augusta City Administrator Todd Glover said.

North Augusta unveiling their new free WIFI, #SPIRIT4U, with the hope of appealing to a younger demo.

"With the WIFI being so important for people right now, especially young professionals, I think that will bring that young professional base into North Augusta," North Augusta Chamber of Commerce President Terra Carroll said.

The WIFI is provided by Spirit Communications, who paid for the equipment and bandwidth for the entire city.

"We started this in Columbia which is our corporate headquarters and it's been a tremendous hit there and success," Spirit Communications Director of Sales Dwayne Drake said.

All you have to do for the new WIFI is go to your phone's WIFI and search #SPIRIT4U, click on it and then you'll have WIFI for 5 blocks, from the Municipal Building all the way past First Baptist Church.

And with so much focus on the riverfront, North Augusta hopes this will push growth across the city.

"We have quite a few storefronts that are available and as we grow with our development on the riverfront with Project Jackson as well as our thoughts to expand the Greeneway through North Augusta Forward and the Greeneway expansion," Carroll said, "I think it just creates a lot of momentum."

Spirit says in the two years in Columbia they are already seeing that business growth North Augusta hopes to have.

"I think it attracts other businesses to the downtown area and hopefully that'll be the case here," Drake said.

Friday, Oct. 28, 2016

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) -- The City of North Augusta has teamed up with Spirit Communications to provide free Wi-Fi in its downtown area.

The Wi-Fi will stretch over an area of 5 blocks. While scanning for available Wi-Fi, users will see the #Spirit4U network and can log on for free to access the internet while in the downtown area.

Spirit Communications is South Carolina's leading provider of voice, data, internet, and fiber optic solutions, according to a release from the City of North Augusta.

The city hopes the free Wi-Fi will attract people to shop, dine and recreate downtown as the area begins to grow.