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WIFI4EU: the European Commission subsidy programme to provide free high-speed Internet access in public places
Hub One, provider of information and communication technology services in professional environments, has launched its « Hub One WiFi4EU » offering aimed at local authorities wishing to propose a free high-speed Internet service in public places for citizens and visitors. With its recognised expertise in wireless technologies, the Group wishes to support local elected officials in setting up Wi-Fi hotspots for more democratised access to digital services in public places and giving a boost to digital transformation.
Access to high-speed Internet has become a major challenge for the economic and tourist appeal of territories that are under pressure to provide quality connections for all their constituents and visitors. The European Commission has launched the WIFI4EU funding programme (€120 million) for developing Wi-Fi, set to benefit some 8000 local authorities in the 28 Member States.
Elected officials can already submit their applications for the RFP launched by the European Commission to benefit from subsidies enabling them to develop free high-speed Wi-Fi in the zones in in their towns that are poorly covered by the fixed and mobile networks.
In this context, Hub One has developed « Hub One WIFI4EU », a complete solution of public access points to the Internet via Wi-Fi, and which includes the deployment and in-service maintenance of equipment in partnership with Cisco Meraki.
Local authorities eligible for the European WIFI4EU programme can submit their project to Hub One, to obtain a technical study and a proposal recommending the solution best suited to their needs. Hub One can take care of the installation and implementation of the equipment.
The cost of setting up the solution is subsidised by the European Commission and self-financed by Hub One and its third-party operators. In this way, Hub One finances the maintenance and operation of the service and equipment for 36 months, while the European Union covers the costs linked to the installation of the access points, to the tune of €15,000.
« The WiFi4EU programme provides municipalities around France with a great opportunity to increase the appeal of their territories and to use Wi-Fi as a channel of communication with citizens and tourists. Our role is to support them in this digital transformation project by implementing turnkey high-speed Internet access, with management tools that are easy to use, », says Jean-Christophe Budin, Wireless Business Line Director, Hub One.]]>
