WIFI4EU - Free Wi-Fi for Europeans
07 December 2016by eub2 -- last modified 17 September 2019
The WiFi4EU initiative supports the installation of free public Wi-Fi hotspots in local communities across the EU: in public squares, town halls, parks, libraries, and other public spaces.
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1. BACKGROUND
1.1. What is the overall aim of the WiFi4EU initiative?
The WiFi4EU initiative aims to provide high-quality Internet access across the EU to citizens and visitors via free of charge Wi-Fi hotspots in public spaces such as parks, squares, administrations, libraries, and health centres. Vouchers funded the European Commission via the initiative will be awarded to support municipalities for the installation of the Wi-Fi hot spots in these centres of public life, using the services of WiFi installation companies.
1.2. Who can participate in the WiFi4EU initiative?
The WiFi4EU initiative is open to public sector bodies from the EU Member States and participating EEA countries (Norway and Iceland). In both the first and the present call for applications, only the municipalities (or equivalent local administrations) or associations of municipalities may participate. The specific list of entities eligible to apply was agreed by the Member States and is available for reference: here.
Each municipality can only benefit from one voucher during the entire duration of the WiFi4EU initiative. Therefore, municipalities awarded a voucher in one call are not eligible to apply for any subsequent calls, whereas municipalities which were not successful may try again and reapply in future calls.
1.3. What is the amount of the WiFi4EU voucher?
The amount of each voucher to be awarded is EUR 15,000.
2. REGISTRATION
2.1. Who are the municipalities and associations formed by municipalities allowed to register? How and when can we register?
In order to apply for the WiFi4EU initiative, all eligible municipalities (or associations of municipalities) included in the above-mentioned list (Q1.2) must first fill in their registration information via the WiFi4EU Portal ( www.wifi4eu.eu/#/home)..Registrations may be done at any time and in any EU Member State language.
Note that an EU Login linked to the municipality must be used for the registration process. (For more information about creating an EULogin, see: europa.eu/!Uv63Cx).
Go to the homepage of the WiFi4EU Portal to begin the registration. Then, select your municipality from the drop down list. Provide the required information about the municipality (including country, type of organization to be registered (municipality or association), address).
Please include the contact information for the mayor/head of municipality/legal representative, i.e. the person who has the competence to sign the Grant Agreement. Attention: we recommend that for the signing of the Grant Agreement this is ONLY the head of the municipality/mayor, and not any legal representative of the municipality. Should the mayor/head of municipality nevertheless wish to nominate a different person to sign the Grant Agreement (i.e. an "Authorised Person"), this "Authorised Person's" contact information should also be included in the registration.
Please note that the access to the Portal is always linked to the person, including his/her email address, who created the EU Login during the registration process and who is therefore indicated as the "Contact Person" in the Portal. Therefore, we strongly advise that if you wish to include an "Authorised Person" in your application, this person is the same as the "Contact Person" (including the email address indicated) to facilitate the process of signing the Grant Agreement.
"Associations of municipalities" may register multiple municipalities in order to simplify the management of those registrations. However, each association will be required to separately submit the final application online for each municipality included in its registration. Note that associations of municipalities are not entitled to receive a voucher; each voucher is awarded to an individual municipality as the beneficiary.
In all cases, only the name of the registered municipality will be made public. (See Q8 about data protection).
Municipalities do not need to include with their registration (or application) any technical descriptions or documentation about the Wi-Fi network to be deployed. Preliminary assessments of any project costs (e.g. estimates from Wi-Fi installation companies) are also not required.
2.2. We are a Wi-Fi installation company. How and when can we register?
Wi-Fi installation companies are encouraged to participate in the WiFi4EU initiative. A list of registered Wi-Fi installation companies is available on the WiFi4EU Portal. Municipalities may consult this list if they are awarded a voucher and are looking for Wi-FI installation companies in their area which could provide the relevant services.
Go to the homepage of the WiFi4EU Portal to begin the registration. Provide information about countr(ies) and region(s) of operation, as well as the company's contact and bank details.
WiFi installation companies may register on the WiFi4EU Portal at any time. However, they must be registered in the Portal if a selected municipality has contracted them to carry out the installation of its WiFi4EU network in order for them to be able to submit the required information on the implementation of the network once the project is completed.
2.3. How can I edit/update my municipality's registration data in the Portal?
Municipalities may modify almost all of their own data registered in the Portal at any time, except during the short period when a call is open and – for the winning municipalities - the time between their signing and INEA's countersigning of the Grant Agreement. These edits may include e.g. updating of the the mayor/head of municipality/legal representative's name and/or e-mail address following municipal elections or internal changes in the organisation, or modifications to the contact person's name and/or address,upporting documents, etc. The only data that cannot be edited is the e-mail address of the person who originally made the municipality's registration in the Portal, because it is linked to the EU Login of the contact person. However, an update/change of the contact person's e-mail address may be requested via the following dedicated online form available in all EU languages: ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/WiFi4EU_NEW_Change_Request_form.
Follow the instructions provided and indicate the relevant changes/information in the form pertaining to the municipality. The Commission will make the necessary changes upon your request and after verification of the documentation.
3. APPLICATION
3.1. We are a municipality. How and when can we apply?
In order to apply for a WiFi4EU call, municipalities must first register on the WiFi4EU Portal using a valid EU Login account. This can be done at any time by filling out the registration form and uploading the required supporting documents (see Q3.2).
After the call is open, municipalities will then be able to apply for the call by clicking the "Apply for voucher" button on the "My application" page of the Portal.
3.2. What documents are required for application?
In order to be able to apply, municipalities must first complete their registration by uploading to the WiFi4EU Portal the following two required supporting documents:
1. The complete "Proof of agreement" form, including a copy of the legal representative/mayor/head of municipality's passport or ID
2. The copy of an act of nomination or document establishing that the legal representative (mayor/head of municipality) legally represents the municipality.
If the legal representative wishes to mandate a person to sign the Grant Agreement on his/her behalf, the following two additional documents must also be supplied at the latest before signing the Grant Agreement:
- the "Authorised Person" form, signed by both the legal representative (i.e. mayor/head of municipality and by the authorised person who will sign the Grant Agreement.
- a copy of the Authorised person's passport/ID
The "Proof of agreement" and "Authorised Person" forms are available in all Member State languages from the WiFi4EU Portal under the "My registration" page.
All supporting documents must be uploaded as separate files in the WiFi4EU Portal under the "My registration" page, using a suitable format (.pdf, .png, or .jpg).
3.3. Is it possible to start work on our Wi-Fi network now and, if we get awarded a voucher, redeem it in the future?
Pursuant to the EU Financial Regulation (see eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32018R1046), no grant may be awarded retroactively for actions already completed. In other words, an installation which has been fully completed and delivered before the signature of the Grant Agreement would not be entitled to receive a voucher.
4. SELECTION AND AWARD
4.1. How will the beneficiaries of a voucher be selected?
Municipalities will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis based on the date and time of the submission of their application (i.e. the time they pressed on the apply button in the Portal and NOT the submission date and time of their registration). In the 2019-2 call, a minimum of 15 vouchers per country will be awarded. The number of vouchers per country may not exceed 8% of the call budget. See section 7 of the call text for more information.
4.2. I cannot sign the Grant Agreement. What should I do?
Signing of the Grant Agreement may be blocked in exceptional cases due to the way the registration was done in the Portal.
For example, if the email address of the mayor/head of municipality/legal representative is the same as the contact person's email address, the signing of the Grant Agreement may not be possible. To rectify this, the easiest solution is that the municipality changes the e-mail address of the mayor (see Q2.3 above). Alternatively, it may authorize the contact person to be able to sign the Grant Agreement.
If you are having specific IT/technical issues, please contact the Helpdesk with an explanation of the problem and include screenshots as relevant.
4.3. How does the reserve list work?
In case additional funding would become available for a given call, and if a municipality is on the reserve list for that call and the reserve list is still valid, the municipality may still be invited to sign a Grant Agreement.
In practice, this means that if one applicant from the main list drops out, an applicant from the reserve list is selected using both the first come, first served and geographic balance principles as indicated in the selection criteria (section 7) of the call text.
All reserve list applicants will be informed by e-mail no later than 60 days after the adoption of the Commission Decision if there is still budget available and there is a possibility to sign a Grant Agreement.
Please also note that applicants which were on the reserve list for a particular call, but did not receive a voucher are eligible to participate in the next call(s).
5. IMPLEMENTATION AND OPERATION
(note for specific technical issues, see also section 9)
5.1. Our municipality was awarded a voucher and our Grant Agreement has been signed by both our municipality and the European Commission (INEA). What do we do next?
The municipality must ensure that the installation is completed and the installed network starts working within 18 months from the signature of the Grant Agreement.
First, the municipality must select a Wi-Fi installation company to carry out the work. (Note that the selected Wi-Fi installation company must also register in the Portal – see Q2.2)
Each municipality may contract the Wi-Fi installation company of its choice to install the wireless equipment. Please note that the Commission/INEA will not intervene in the contractual relationship between the municipalities and their Wi-Fi installation company.
Municipalities will designate 'centres of public life' where the WiFi4EU hotspots will be installed. The Wi-Fi hotspots should be installed in the areas where no similar offers of free Wi-Fi connectivity already exist.
Municipalities are responsible for financing the Internet subscription and maintenance of the equipment in order to offer free and high-quality Wi-Fi for their citizens and visitors for at least three (3) years after the installation of the network.
Municipalities should also clearly display the WiFi4EU visual identity in public spaces offering a WiFi4EU connection to the Internet. More information about the visual identity rules, as well as the WiFi4EU emblem/logo, is available on INEA's WiFi4EU webpage: ec.europa.eu/inea/en/connecting-europe-facility/cef-telecom/wifi4eu.
Consult section 6.2 of the call text for more information about the specific technical requirements of the initiative.
5.2. What costs are covered by the voucher?
The WiFi4EU voucher is a lump sum payment intended to cover only the equipment and installation costs of Wi-Fi hotspots meeting the requirements defined in the call text and the Grant Agreement Annex I signed with the selected municipalities.
The equipment includes those items necessary for the deployment of the WiFi4EU network, such as power supply devices (e.g. Power over Ethernet (PoE) adapter, power adapter, PoE switch) or equipment to connect to Internet (e.g. routers, microwave links, switches, firewalls). However, the main objective of the voucher must be the Access Points, and respecting the required minimum number of Access Points to be installed (see also Q9.2).
The municipalities will be responsible for the costs of the connectivity (Internet subscription), maintenance and operation of the equipment for at least three (3) years.
See also section 6 below for specific details on payments.
5.3. What costs are not covered by the voucher?
Equipment to extend the backhaul connectivity from another location to the WiFi4EU location (e.g microwave links) is not covered by the voucher. Likewise, the router to connect to the Internet is typically part of the Internet connection, and this is a responsibility of the municipality to contract and maintain it for three years. Therefore, it also would not be part of the voucher. The backhaul connectivity should be available at the place of deployment of the WiFi4EU network, or it should be deployed by other means.
5.4. Can the project be broader than what is funded by the voucher? I.e. Is it possible to connect multiple centres of local public life?
Municipalities may use the WiFi4EU voucher to partially fund a project of higher value; therefore any equipment and installation costs beyond the value of the voucher would fall under the contract between the supplier and the municipality.
For example, it would be possible to connect several centres of local public life with one network (single captive portal) or several networks (different captive portals). However, if the costs for equipment and installation exceed the value of the voucher, the additional costs would need to be financed by the municipalities or by other national/regional funding sources.
5.5. Will existing public Wi-Fi networks be able to join the WiFi4EU initiative?
Currently, existing public Wi-Fi networks will be able to join the WiFi4EU initiative, provided they respect the conditions and technical specifications described in the Annex I of the Grant Agreement, with a view not to alter the WiFi4EU main features, e.g. the access should be free of charge, without discriminatory conditions and would need to respect the branding requirements.
It will be also possible for existing networks to join the WiFi4EU initiative without using vouchers. We are working towards providing adequate solutions to the different situations that could be presented.
5.6. What speed should the WiFi4EU networks provide?
The Wi-Fi networks should be capable of providing a high quality user experience. Municipalities should subscribe to the highest available mass-market offer in the area and as a minimum, to one offering at least 30Mbps download speed. The backhaul network's speed should also be at least equivalent to the connectivity used by the municipalities for their own internal needs. See section 6.2 of the call text and the Grant Agreement (notably its Annex I) for more information on the technical requirements of the WiFi4EU initiative.
5.7. What happens if the value of 30 Mbps download speed cannot be guaranteed?
According to the Annex I/article I.3 of the Grant Agreement, the municipality shall subscribe to a mass-market Internet connection offer equivalent to the highest speed available in the area, and ensure that this backhaul speed is at least equivalent to that (if any) used by the municipality for its internal connectivity needs and in any event to one offering at least 30 Mbps download. This requirement is therefore intended for the backhaul Internet connection, not per user. The backhaul connectivity reaching a 30 Mbps should be reached at the latest 18 months after the signature of the Grant Agreement. Temporary degradations of speed due unexpected circumstances are accepted, but will be monitored and reported systematically. Degradation of speed should not be the consequence of reduced backhaul speed. The aim is not just to have a free Wi-Fi connection, but one that is fast and efficient.
5.8. What is "free access"?
As stated in recital (4) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1953 (see eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2017/1953/oj), the service provided by the WiFi4EU hotspots should be free of charge, i.e. "provided without corresponding remuneration, whether by direct payment or by other types of consideration, such as commercial advertising or the provision of personal data for commercial purposes" for the three (3) first years of operation.
Any advertisement on the captive portal (i.e. the municipality's web page that is displayed to newly connected users) constituting a source of revenue for the municipality or the obligation, for end users, to buy any product or service to access the network, would not qualify as "free of charge" in the meaning of this Regulation.
5.9. What is the validity of the WiFi4EU voucher?
The WiFi4EU voucher is valid for 18 months as from the countersignature of the Grant Agreement, meaning that once the Grant Agreement has been countersigned, selected municipalities have 18 months to deploy the WiFi4EU network. Beyond this period, the voucher will expire and Wi-Fi installation companies will no longer be able to redeem it.
5.10. Are there any security features applicable to the WiFi4EU networks?
Some security features will be part of the technical specifications of the equipment and detailed in the Grant Agreement, notably in its Annex I. Ultimately, the municipalities will be responsible for managing each WiFi4EU network at the local level and thus define the security settings in line with EU and national law.
In the initial stage, the public WiFi4EU hotspots will not be required to be encrypted. However, it is foreseen that in the second stage (indicatively from 2019 onwards), a common authentication platform will be created that will provide additional security features for the connection of end users, as well as facilitate seamless roaming between WiFi4EU hotspots in different areas.
6. PAYMENT
6.1. How can the voucher be redeemed, i.e. what are the steps involving the payment to the Wi-Fi installation company?
In order for the Wi-Fi installation company to redeem the voucher of EUR 15,000 from the European Commission they must have:
- Registered on the WiFi4EU Portal.
- Been designated by a municipality as their provider in the Portal.
- Provided its bank account details confirmed by the Commission in the WiFi4EU Portal (see also Q6.5 and Q6.6).
- Submitted an installation report (according to Article 4 of the Grant Agreement), which must subsequently be approved both by the municipality and the Commission in the WiFi4EU Portal.
6.2. Does the voucher cover Value Added Tax (VAT)?
The voucher is a lump sum payment intended to cover the full costs of the equipment and its installation, in which the VAT is an acceptable cost as long as the cost covered by the voucher is equal to or less than EUR 15,000.
As also indicated in Q6.3 below, any costs above the 15,000 EUR value of the voucher (whether or not VAT is included) will have to be covered by the municipalities themselves.
6.3. What happens if the cost of the installation is more than €15,000?
Pursuant to Article 4 of the WiFi4EU-2019-1 call text, the amount of each voucher to be allocated is €15,000 in the form of a lump sum. Any outstanding balance cannot be covered by the voucher.
6.4. Can the municipality mandate the setup of the network to several third parties and therefore request a split of the voucher to several WiFi installation companies?
The WiFi4EU vouchers only cover the purchase of the Wi-Fi Access Point equipment and installation. The voucher amount can only be paid to a single WiFi installation company identified by the municipality in the Portal for this purpose. Note that the selected Wi-Fi installation company may outsource or delegate part of the tasks to other companies. In this case, it is the municipality's responsibility to manage, keeping in mind that the payment will only be made to the original installation company it selected.
6.5. What is the process for the bank account validation of the Wi-Fi installation company?
After a Wi-Fi installation company has been selected by a municipality, it must:
1) encode (in the "Bank account" section of the WiFi4EU Portal's "My registration" page – see also Q6.6) the bank information for the account in which they would like to receive the payment, and
2) attach the appropriate supporting documents.
Once encoded, both the bank information and the supporting documents are validated through a series of checks by the Commission services. The Wi-Fi installation company is then notified by e-mail of the successful validation as soon as all of the checks have been satisfactorily completed. If any additional information is required to complete the validation process, the Wi-Fi installation company will be contacted by e-mail accordingly. The Wi-Fi installation company can also monitor this status via the "My registration" page of the Portal.
6.6. How should we fill out the bank account details on the WiFi4EU Portal and what data should be encoded?
The following data must be entered in the "Bank account" section of the WiFi4EU Portal's "My registration" page:
Account name: the name in which the account was opened. It can be the same as the account holder but not necessarily (e.g. if it is a shared account, special purpose account). The account name, which is usually found on the bank statement or on another bank document, is the name that should be entered in the Portal.
IBAN: The IBAN (International Bank Account Number) is an account number "formatted" in accordance with international standards which allows banks to perform cross-border transactions between countries.
Bank name: refers here to the final bank, meaning the bank where the account holder keeps the bank account.
BIC/SWIFT code: The BIC (Business Identifier Code) is allocated by SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) to banks (against payment).
Country: Country where the account is held.
The following data must be entered in the "Account holder details" section of the WiFi4EU Portal's "My registration" page:
Street – Street number – City - Country: refers to the address of the account holder as declared to the bank.
6.7. What is the process for the Wi-Fi installation company to receive the payment?
In order for the Wi-Fi installation company to receive the payment, it must first have validated bank information in the Portal (see Q6.5). Once the information is valid:
The Wi-Fi installation company sends the installation report to the municipality for validation via the WiFi4EU Portal.
The municipality validates the installation report in the Portal, confirming that each encoded Access Point does indeed exist and is placed according to the indicated GPS coordinates.
Following the municipality's validation of the installation report, INEA has up to 60 days to:
a) ensure that the Wi-Fi installation is compliant with Article 4.2 of
the Grant Agreement (i.e. that there is a running network, displays the
WiFi4EU logo etc.)
b) confirm the installation report, and
c) make the payment.
In case of non-compliance with Article 4.2 of the Grant Agreement, both INEA's confirmation of the installation report and the subsequent payment are suspended for the duration until compliance is ensured. Please also note that it is important to make sure that the installation of the snippet is correct, as otherwise, no payment can be triggered. Consult the Snippet Installation Guide
6.8. Should the Wi-Fi installation company invoice the INEA/European Commission or the municipality?
The Wi-Fi installation company must invoice the municipality directly. Note that INEA/Commission will not intervene in any contracting relations between the municipality and the installation company, and do not need to receive copies of any invoices. Please keep in mind that municipalities and the Wi-Fi installation companies should comply with the national financial rules in terms of invoicing. Municipalities may contact their competent national authority for more information regarding procurement rules, contracting and/or accounting.
Please also note that municipalities should keep all original supporting documents to prove the proper implementation for a period of three years starting from the date of payment of the balance. If there are on-going audits, the documents should be kept until such audits, appeals, litigation or pursuit of claims are closed.
6.9. Can a Wi-Fi installation company modify the installation report once submitted to the municipality?
The installation report is submitted by the Wi-Fi installation company once the installation is complete. By submitting the installation report, the Wi-Fi installation company declares that the installation is complete and compliant with the technical requirements set out in Annex I of the model grant agreement.If the installation report has been submitted too fast, the Wi-Fi installation company should ask the municipality to reject it. Provided that the municipality has not yet confirmed the installation report, the installation report will come back to the Wi-Fi installation company for edition.
Once the Wi-Fi installation company has submitted the installation report, the WiFi4EU portal will automatically notify the municipality by e-mail, inviting the municipality to verify the information entered by the Wi-Fi installation company and to confirm that the installation is complete and compliant with the technical requirements set out in Annex I of the model grant agreement.
The municipality may reject the installation report. The WiFi4EU portal will automatically notify per e-mail the Wi-Fi installation company and provide the reason for rejection given by the municipality. If the municipality rejects the installation report, it becomes editable for the installation company to modify it and submit it again.
Once validated by the municipality, the installation report is not editable any longer and cannot be modified.
The installation report, submitted by the Wi-Fi installation company and certified correct by the municipality, is necessary for the Commission to launch its own verifications that the rules set out in the model grant agreement are complied with. If all is compliant, the Commission will pay the voucher within 60 days.
6.10 Can a municipality change its initial choice of the Wi-Fi Installation Company during the 18-month implementation period
The Beneficiary (municipality) may change the selection of the Wi-Fi Installation Company. The Beneficiary should ensure that enough time is left within the 18-month implementation period – starting after the countersignature of the Grant Agreement by INEA - to complete the installation of the Wi-Fi network(s) by the newly selected Wi-Fi Installation Company. In any case, it should occur before the Beneficiary validates the Installation Report in the Portal (see FAQ no 6.7). The Beneficiary can review the Wi-Fi installation company details and update the initial selection on "My voucher" tab, by clicking on the Wi-Fi Installation Company link "See details".
7. WIFI4EU PORTAL
7.1. I cannot log into the WiFi4EU Portal. What should I do?
In case a person no longer has access to the WiFi4EU Portal (i.e. no access to the EU Login credentials used in the original registration), municipalities should complete the dedicated online form to update this information to gain access to the Portal. The form is available in all EU languages: https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/WiFi4EU_NEW_Change_Request_form. Follow the instructions provided and the relevant changes/information in the form pertaining to the municipality. See also Q2.3 above.
If you are having specific IT/technical issues, please contact the Helpdesk with an explanation of the problem.
8. DATA PROTECTION
8.1. How is my personal data protected?
The WiFi4EU Portal - in accordance with the applicable EU legislation (notably Regulation (EC)45/2001) only collects personal data necessary for the participation in the WiFi4EU initiative and its management by the European Commission (or INEA). Data will not be retained unless necessary for control and audit purposes
Similarly, some of this data may be shared by the European Commission (or INEA), on the basis of the "need to know" principle, with other EU Institutions and bodies and Member States (including their regional or local authorities), or other services in charge of controls or inspections in accordance with European law (European Court of Auditors, OLAF, Ombudsman, etc.).
For more details, see the WiFi4EU privacy statement, available on the home page of the WiFi4EU Portal.
Please note that for the WiFi4EU network, in the first stage, the registration and authentication of users, and therefore any potential collection and processing personal data, will be the responsibility of each municipality and their contracted Internet Service Provider (ISP). In this phase, each WiFi4EU hotspot will have to comply with a privacy statement and applicable national and EU laws, notably Regulation (EC)45/2001.
In a second phase (tentatively as from 2019), there will be a single authentication platform which will allow users to register only once and "roam" between all WiFi4EU hotspots, without having to reintroduce their credentials.
9. TECHNICAL QUESTIONS
9.1. What is the "domain name" as per definition of Article 4.1 of the Grant Agreement?
The domain name is the captive portal web address of the WiFi4EU network (URL). Note that this refers to the website on which the captive portal is located, and not to the website which the user will be redirected after logging in. It is up to the municipality to choose it.
9.2. Access points
9.2.1 What are the technical requirements for the WiFi4EU Access Points?
The technical specifications of the equipment are detailed in section 6.2.2 of the call text, as well as Article I.2 of Annex I of the Grant Agreement signed between the municipalities and the Commission.
The municipality shall ensure that each Access Point:
- Supports concurrent dual-band (2,4Ghz – 5Ghz) use
- Has a support cycle superior to 5 years
- Has a mean time between failure (MTBF) of at least 5 years
- Has a dedicated and centralised single point of management for all APs of each WiFi4EU network
- Supports IEEE 802.1x
- Complies with IEEE 802.11ac Wave I
- Supports IEEE 802.11r
- Supports IEEE 802.11k
- Supports IEEE 802.11v
- Is able to handle at least 50 concurrent users without performance degradation
- Has at least 2x2 multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)
- Complies with Hotspot 2.0 (Passpoint Wi-Fi Alliance certification program).
9.2.2. What is the minimum number of Access Points that need to be installed/indoor or outdoor?
The minimum number of Access Points, as also indicated in section 6.2.2 of the call text and Annex 1/Article I.2 of the Grant Agreement, is as follows:
|
Minimum number of outdoor APs |
Minimum number of indoor APs |
|
10 |
0 |
|
9 |
2 |
|
8 |
3 |
|
7 |
5 |
|
6 |
6 |
|
5 |
8 |
|
4 |
9 |
|
3 |
11 |
|
2 |
12 |
|
1 |
14 |
|
0 |
15 |
9.2.3. Can we reduce the minimum number of Access Points (and at a reduced amount of the voucher)?
No, it is not possible. The number of Access Points is fixed by Annex 1/article I.2 of the Grant Agreement. A derogation on this is not possible because the scheme is not designed to allow partial financing or partial fulfillment of the conditions. However, Access Points may cover several areas even if they are not physically close or interconnected. In addition, more than one Access Point can be installed at a given location (e.g. in order to reinforce the Wi-Fi signal reception).
9.2.4. Can we split the number of minimum Access Points between different networks?
If Access Points are situated in different physical locations (e.g. the main town square and a library) and they are all connected to the same captive portal, this will be considered as a single WiFi4EU network.
If the number of Access Points is split and each group is connected
to a different captive portal (in case the intention is to have
different captive portals – e.g one for a museum and one for a library),
this will be considered as different WiFi4EU networks.
Please remember that if the decision is to set up different
networks/captive portals, the captive portals must also all be
maintained– which in turn could increase resource and operating costs.
9.2.5 Can I have more than one Access Point at each location?
Yes. The Grant Agreement does not put any restrictions on how the Access Points are distributed. It is purely a decision for the municipalities themselves, taking into consideration how they see the Access Points to best serve the users.
9.2.6. Is the upgrade of existing Access Points covered by the WiFi4EU voucher?
Yes, the WiFi4EU voucher can be used to finance the upgrade of an existing public Wi-Fi network, provided that the upgrade makes the network compliant with the conditions as indicated in the call text.
9.3. SSID
9.3.1. How should the network (SSID) be set up?
The WiFi4EU network SSID should be named according to Annex I of the Grant Agreement. The WiFi4EU network name refers to a name the municipality may want to give to the WiFi4EU network (e.g. City Hall) to identify it when communicating with INEA and to differentiate it from other networks.
9.3.2. Can we use an SSID other than WiFi4EU?
In addition to the standard "WiFi4EU" SSID (based on an open network and captive portal), it is possible to also broadcast:
- one SSID for internal use of the municipality, e.g. serving the staff of the administration services in the town hall or in the public library, or for a smart city project.
and/or
- one SSID to provide a secure authentication service of WiFi4EU users in the first phase of the WiFi4EU implementation (e.g. "WiFi4EU – Secure") .
Note that a common secure authentication service serving all WiFi4EU networks in Europe will be established in Phase II of the WiFi4EU implementation (see also Q9.4). Therefore, if a local SSID providing secure authentication service is established in the first phase (as in the case above), it can either be removed during Phase II or it can continue to be broadcasted in parallel.
In any case, none of the additional SSID broadcasting should affect the quality of service offered to the general public. The municipality should also appropriately differentiate such SSIDs name from the "WiFi4EU" open SSID.
Please refer to the Annex I/article I.5 of the Grant Agreement for more details.
9.3.3. Is the municipality obliged to broadcast an SSID with an open captive portal with no user identification?
The aim of the WiFi4EU initiative is to provide the easiest access possible to free-of-charge Wi-Fi networks in public spaces. We therefore consider that the most straight-forward on-boarding procedure, in principle based on a one-click-to-connect button, is preferable. However, should the municipality be required by national laws to put in place other registration and authentication procedures, this can be implemented, e.g. by requesting additional user details. In the absence of such legal obligations, the "one-click-to-connect" procedure should be implemented.
9.4. Who is responsible for the user authentication?
In Phase I of the initiative, the authentication, authorisation and accounting of users is the responsibility of the municipalities. In Phase II, there will be a single authentication system available at EU level, to which municipalities will have to reconfigure their networks to connect to it. The authorisation and accounting of users will continue to be a responsibility of the municipalities. For more details on these two phases, please refer to Annex I of the Grant Agreement.
9.5. Is the "Passpoint" certification required?
As specified in Annex I of the Grant Agreement, a hotspot 2.0 is a requirement for the WiFi4EU equipment to be installed to benefit from a WiFi4EU voucher. The Passpoint Certification Program is required to ensure the interoperability of the equipment not only with other manufacturers, but also with the single authentication service that the Commission will provide at a later stage in Phase II of the WiFi4EU implementation.
9.6. Can you provide a list of equipment that meets the WiFi4UE requirements?
Here you can find the list of published Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Passpoint® devices.
- Passpoint (Release 2) certified products: www.wi-fi.org/product-finder-results?sort_by=certified&sort_order=desc&certifications=44
- Passpoint (Release 1) certified products: www.wi-fi.org/product-finder-results?sort_by=certified&sort_order=desc&certifications=43
9.7. Does the WiFi4EU initiative operate a captive portal server?
Annex 1/article I.5.1 of the Grant Agreement lists the requirements to be met for the captive portal in Phase I of the deployment. Note that in this phase, there is no centralised captive portal server. In Phase II, the captive portal hosting will be centralised and the equipment should be reconfigured accordingly. During this phase, the Commission will provide a secured single authentication service and the municipalities will have to reconfigure their networks to connect to it. Nevertheless, the captive portal will continue to be a responsibility of each municipality. See also Q9.4.
9.8. What is our deadline to select the installation provider?
Municipalities have 18 months to implement the project according to the Grant Agreement. Note that within this 18-month implementation period there is no deadline to select the installation company. However, it is recommended that municipalities make its selection as soon as possible in order to meet the final implementation deadline.
9.9. In Phase II of the Wi-Fi implementation, will the secured authentication and monitoring solution require the users to identify themselves in some way (e.g. using a phone number)? How will the user be linked to a device, MAC-address?
In Phase II, there will be a single registration and authentication system available at EU level that will harmonise the method to on-board users and give them easy access to digital services. At this moment, we do not have additional information on how this will be technically implemented because the system will be procured later this year.
9.10. Can traffic on a WiFi4EU network be limited, for instance by setting data or time limits per user to avoid network congestion, or by completely banning access to particular services, contents and sites in order to ensure the security of the network?
Local authorities providing free of charge connectivity to the internet through a local wireless access network under the WiFi4EU Initiative must comply with the obligations to safeguard an open internet access foreseen in Regulation (EU) 2015/2010, irrespective of whether the service is provided through a commercial intermediary or directly by the public local authority.
In principle, as foreseen in article 3, paragraph 1, of Regulation (EU) 2015/2010, providers of internet access services shall treat all traffic equally, when providing internet access services, without discrimination, restriction or interference, and irrespective of the sender and receiver, the content accessed or distributed, the applications or services used or provided or the terminal equipment used.
Limiting data volume per user and/or time limits is allowed as long as the above principles are respected, and subject to the need to ensure a smooth functioning of the network and, in particular, the need to ensure a fair allocation of capacity between users at peak times, according to point I.4 of the Annex I to the Grant Agreement to be signed by municipalities.
Reasonable* traffic management measures are also authorized. In addition, art 3 paragraph 3 foresees the possibility to implement additional traffic management measures justified by the need i.a.:
- To preserve the integrity and security of the network, of services via that network, and of the terminal equipment of end-users.
- To prevent impending network congestion and mitigate the effects of exceptional or temporary network congestion, provided that equivalent categories of traffic are treated equally. More details on how to implement the Regulation can be found in the implementation Guidelines of the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC).
That been said, in the case of local wireless access networks supported by the WiFi4EU initiative, there is a need to fulfill the applicable eligibility and quality of service requirements: network congestion should not result from the non-respect of the backhaul requirements that guarantee a high-quality internet experience to users (Section l.3).
*In order to be deemed reasonable, such measures shall be transparent, non-discriminatory, and proportionate and based on objectively different quality of service requirements of specific categories of traffic (not on commercial considerations). Such measures shall not monitor the specific content and shall not be maintained for longer than necessary.
9.11. Is it possible to take a WiFi4EU network out of service during some hours at night?
WiFi4EU networks must offer largely unrestricted access to the Internet, and must be in operation for at least three years from the confirmation of their deployment by INEA. A remote monitoring system is in place to verify this. Only in case of exceptional circumstances, WiFi4EU networks can be subject to temporary service interruptions. Such interruptions should not last more than the exceptional circumstances that motivated them. INEA may request the justification of the exceptional circumstances motivating such a decision.
10. OTHER
10.1. What is the WiFi4EU Community? How can we get involved?
The WiFi4EU Community is an interactive forum that serves as a direct, focal point between stakeholders (i.e. municipalities and Wi-Fi installation companies) for information exchange about the WiFi4EU initiative.
Through blogs, moderated discussions and the sharing of news and information, the Community aims to nurture a dialog and allow participants to share best practices and experiences with each other, as well as enlarge the overall scope of WiFi4EU-related communication.
You are warmly encouraged to join the Community and get involved: ec.europa.eu/futurium/en/wifi4eu.
10.2. What will be the consequences of Brexit for UK applicants?
Please be aware that all of the eligibility criteria as outlined in the call text must be complied with beyond the application date, i.e. during the evaluation, selection and award procedures, as well as the entire duration of the grant. If the United Kingdom withdraws from the EU during the grant period without concluding an agreement with the EU ensuring in particular that UK applicants continue to be eligible, the change of the municipality's legal situation will imply that they become non-eligible for the WiFi4EU voucher. Moreover, for British municipalities which have already been awarded a voucher before the withdrawal date, they will cease to receive EU funding (except where they have deployed the WiFi4EU network before such date, while continuing, where possible, to participate) or be required to leave the project on the basis of Article II.16.3.1 (a) (change of the legal situation of the beneficiary) of the Grant Agreement.
10.3. Is there an "officially certified" WiFi4EU consultant and/or installation company that we should use to help us prepare our application and/or assist us with the implementation?
No. There is absolutely no formal appointment or recommendation of any individual Wi-Fi installation company/consultancy by the European Commission/INEA under the WiFi4EU initiative. Therefore, please proceed with caution if you have been directly approached and/or have seen advertisements/news items from organisations claiming they are "officially certified" or "officially designated" for this purpose, including by use of WiFi4EU logo and/or the EU flag.
You are also kindly requested to notify and provide these details to the Helpdesk, so that the European Commission can take measures to stop this misinformation. In particular, the European Commission/INEA reserves the right to withdraw the registration of any Wi-Fi installation company using such uncompetitive practices.
Please note that Wi-Fi installation companies may register on the WiFi4EU Portal at any time. However, the information provided in the Portal by these companies is offered as a reference only. It should not be construed as any formal endorsement of the company/services provided.
It is the responsibility of each municipality to select the Wi-Fi installation company that will set up their WiFi4EU hotspot, in accordance with their standard local procedures (public tendering rules).
Source: European Commission
