INTERNET surfers are to be offered extended wireless access after a successful Glasgow city centre trial.

High speed wi-fi access will be available in the West End under plans to increase wireless zones.

Technology firm Arqiva plans to site nine transmitters near Byres Road to improve the coverage for 3G mobiles, wi-fi, digital radio and for watching television on mobile phones.

Lampposts on University Avenue, Hyndland Street, Great Western Road, Byres Road, Park Road, and Napiershall Street will be replaced with disguised transmitters to create the network.

Arqiva began talks last year with transport agency Strathclyde Partnership for Transport over providing mobile phone coverage and internet access for passengers on the Subway.

Glasgow has been the leading UK area for the firm's CityCell service, which provides wi-fi services for O2, Vodafone and T-Mobile via 12 city centre transmitters.

The masts are disguised as lampposts in an attempt to blend into the environment. The technology allows phone users to access high-speed mobile internet and e-mail, as well as video and music services.

There are already 13 similar masts in and around Byres Road and Walter Buchanan, 48, from Partick, has lodged an objection to the planning application.

He said: "The street lights' masts have lower power than tower type masts, but are sited in much busier areas.

"There is already a high concentration of these masts in a very small area and it must be a concern."

A spokesman for Arqiva said the proposals were "sympathetic to the local environment" and the antennas were discreet.

Strathclyde Partnership for Transport is in talks with the firm over plans to create a phone network for all 15 of Glasgow's Subway stations.

Wi-fi trials are also due to be staged in Buchanan Street later this year which, if successful, will be extended to all stations.

jonathan.paisley@eveningtimes.co.uk