Virgin Media (News - Alert) Business has signed a deal with the Birmingham City Council in the U.K. under which the company will offer free public Wi-Fi in key areas of the city center. The goal of this is to increase economic growth, while ensuring more residents in the area will have access to the Internet.

As such, the Wi-Fi service will be made available to both visitors and residents once it's launched in September. What's most remarkable about this initiative is that Wi-Fi services will be completely free of charge and usage limitations, allowing residents to rely on it indefinitely.

Areas expected to have access to this service include Victoria Square, New Street, Moor Street, High Street, St Philip's Cathedral and the area surrounding the Library of Birmingham.

"This project will dramatically accelerate mobile broadband investment in the city," said Birmingham City Councillor James McKay in a statement. "It will bring enhanced high-speed mobile broadband coverage for more people, and the free Virgin Media Business Wi-Fi zone in the city centre will help bridge the digital divide for those who are otherwise unable to access such services."

This Smart City agenda also includes boosted 3G and 4G coverage, according to McKay, via a hosting service provided by Virgin Media Business that will allow mobile operators to use small cells for offloading 3G and 4G networks when experiencing high levels of demand and capacity. These small cells will be placed inconspicuously on lampposts and other street fixtures and supports by Virgin Media's fiber backhaul.

Virgin Media, along with Airspan (News - Alert) Networks, successfully completed small cell LTE trials in the U.K. last September using Airspan's AirSynergy pico eNodeBs connected to the company's AirCore LTE (News - Alert) EPC solution. It's possible these base stations are what will be used in Birmingham, although Virgin Media has also worked with Alcatel-Lucent small cells in the past.

Either way, Virgin Media plans to start more U.K. joint trials this year with mobile operators in order to be ready for commercial deployment in early 2014.