Funding for free public WiFi hotspots

SOME €60,000 in European funding allocated to Mayo County Council to provide free public WiFi hotspots in Mayo can be matched by the Department of Rural and Community Development.

Speaking today, Minister Michael Ring expressed delight that Mayo County Council has been successful in securing €60,000 under the WiFi4EU initiative, which is administered within Ireland by his department.

“The department has also offered to match this funding so there is a possibility for this funding to be doubled subject to an application to my department from Mayo County Council,” he explained.

Said Minister Ring: “This initiative will bring free WiFi hotspots to a number of public spaces in Mayo such as town squares, parks, hospitals and libraries. The locations will be determined by Mayo County Council.

“Combined with the potential matched funding from my department, this initiative will help provide the public in Mayo with a much improved of free public WiFi hotspots.

“Officials from my department worked very closely with the broadband officer in Mayo County Council and the European Commission ahead of the first call for applications. This is a demonstration of the very positive engagement and willingness from all involved to improve the connectivity of communities.”

Mayo County Council now has 18 months to select locations for the WiFi4EU hotspots and complete their installation to be ready for public use. These locations need to be ‘centres of public life’ where no other free WiFi service is already available.

The WiFi4EU service will be free of charge, free of advertising and free from commercial re-use of data.