"WiFi4EU" is an initiative launched by the European Commission to promote free Wi-Fi connectivity for European citizens in public places, including parks, libraries, squares, public buildings, museums... Each municipality interested in installing a free public network can apply for a funding of 15,000 euros per municipality. The budget of the WiFi4EU project is 120 million euros between 2018 and 2020.

13,000 European municipalities had applied during the first call for applications in November 2018: 2,800 of them had been selected, including 233 French municipalities. These 2,800 communes received a "coupon" of 15,000 euros for the installation of their equipment.

On April 4 and 5, 2019, more than 10,000 European municipalities applied, almost three times more than the 3,400 "coupons" of 15,000 euros planned for this second session, with 51 million euros.

• The Innovation and Network Executive Agency (INEA), the Commission's executive agency in charge of implementing the WiFi4EU program, will now proceed with the necessary verifications of the admissibility and eligibility of municipalities.
• Recipients will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis, while ensuring geographic balance.
• Each participating country is guaranteed a minimum of 15 vouchers and can potentially win a maximum of 510 vouchers.

Who can participate in the WiFi4EU initiative?

Each municipality can only benefit from one coupon for the entire duration of the WiFi4EU initiative. Consequently, municipalities that have received a coupon for a given call are not eligible to apply for any subsequent call, while those that have not been successful can try again and reapply for future calls.

The amount of each coupon to be allocated is €15,000.00.

Intercommunities" can register several communes in order to simplify the management of these registrations. However, each intercommunality will be required to submit separately the final online application of each commune listed in its registration.

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