WiFi4EU: How We are Bringing Wireless Internet to Polish Municipalities

To help close the digital divide in Europe, the European Commission has launched an initiative called Wi‑Fi4EU.

Wi‑Fi4EU is designed to bring free Wi‑Fi connectivity for both citizens and visitors to public spaces across Europe such as parks, squares, public buildings, libraries, health centers, and museums.

Does Wi‑Fi4EU Work?

Wi‑Fi4EU operates using a voucher model, offering a fixed amount of funding for each municipality (as of the writing of this case study, €15,000 per municipality or approximately $17,600 USD). Once the municipalities have received their vouchers, they determine which “centers of public life” the public Wi‑Fi access points will be deployed in. The initiative’s total budget is €120 million, allowing more than ten thousand municipalities across the EU member states to improve their Wi‑Fi infrastructure, benefiting residents and visitors alike.

Polish municipalities, in particular, will benefit from this program, as Wi‑Fi infrastructure remains woefully inadequate in many regions across the country. Until now, investment in Wi‑Fi infrastructure has remained low, leaving both citizens and visitors with few options for a fast, reliable connection. As such, many people have had to rely on personal mobile network hotspots or direct-wired connections, limiting options and mobility.

Who Benefits from Wi‑Fi4EU?

While low-income individuals and individuals living in areas with poor existing Wi‑Fi infrastructure will benefit significantly, all European residents and visitors will benefit from this initiative. Everyone, no matter where they live or how much they earn, is able to access free Wi‑Fi in public spaces, which also allows government agencies and other public institutions to help visitors and residents access e-government, e-health, and e-tourism services free of charge.

Winncom Technologies and its Partners, using Cambium Networks equipment, designed and implemented Wi-Fi solutions for many Polish municipalities.