Romanian municipalities can apply for EU funds to install free public Wi-Fi

Newsroom 06/11/2018 | 12:48

Municipalities in Romania will be able to apply for funding for the installation of public access points and free wireless internet in public spaces. The European Commission is launching the first call for projects under the WiFi4EU program, which was interrupted due to a software error earlier this year.

In this round vouchers worth EUR 15,000 each will be awarded for the first 2,800 municipalities who apply. A minimum of 15 vouchers per member state will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

To apply for funding, municipalities have to follow a few simple steps:

to be registered on the wifi4eu.eu online platform by November 7;
to connect and submit the application on wifi4eu.eu on November 7, when the call for projects officially opens;
given the very high interest in the program, the selection will be based on the first come, first served principle, which is why the application must be submitted as quickly as possible.

So far, at the European Union level, one in five municipalities has been registered. Over the next two years, three more calls for projects will follow. The value bonus can be used to install free Wi-Fi hotspots in public spaces such as parks, markets and public buildings, libraries, museums and health centers all over Europe.

In total, by 2020, EUR 120 million will be allocated to up to 8,000 EU municipalities. WiFi4EU-funded networks will be free of charge, without advertising and will not collect personal data. Funding will only be granted to networks that will not overlap with free, public or private offers, already existing and of a similar quality in the same public space.