The WiFi4EU scheme is open to the public sector bodies such as Municipalities and local authorities that are within an EU Member State, and also and participating EEA countries, Norway and Iceland.

How does a Local Council or Authority Apply?

Municipalities, Councils & Local Authorities can register on www.wifi4eu.eu anytime by filling out a simple registration form. To register, a municipality will need an EU login account.

Yesway Ltd is registered as an installation company for the Wifi4EU scheme.

What Information does a Local Authority need to register?

Local Authorities need to provide basic information about the municipality, including the contact details of their legal representative and optionally the name of a contact person (typically a staff member) who has been appointed to manage the registration and application.

The following information will be required (but will not be made public except for the name of the registered municipality):

• Country and type of organization to be registered (Local Authority, Council or association)
• Information on the municipality
  • Name of the Municipality
  • Official address, number and postal code
• Information on the legal representative
  • Name and surname
  • E-mail address
• Information on the contact person if this  is different from the legal representative
  • Name and surname
  • Address, number and postal code

The registration process is simple so that any Local Authority can apply in their chosen language without needing any intermediary.

Municipalities (Local Auhorities) are NOT requested to include a technical project or documentation about the Wi-Fi network to be deployed. They also do NOT need a preliminary assessment of costs from a supplier, to be able to apply for the voucher.

 The installation needs to be completed and the Wi-Fi hot spot start working within 1.5 years after being awarded the voucher. Yesway Ltd will aim to have the work completed within 1 Month of the Voucher being awarded (subject to suitable equipment installation location).

Each beneficiary will contract the supplier(s) of their choice to install the wireless equipment (in accordance with public procurement rules).

The Wi-Fi hot-spots will be installed in the areas where no similar offers of free Wi-Fi connectivity already exist.

A high speed Internet connection will be required to connect the Wifi equipment. The high-speed broadband  will deliver a high-quality Internet to users and Yesway Ltd will take care of the procurement and management of this if required. The broadband connection is required to be operational for at least 3 years from the moment the network is up and running.

What does the Wifi4eu Voucher fund?

The Wi-Fi hot spot must be installed using the funding voucher. The local authority or other public body is 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 3 years.

Beneficiaries must use the common visual identity to be provided by the Commission and link to the associated online tools.

Potential Consequences of Brexit for the Wifi4EU Scheme

According to the EU Wifi4EU website:

‘Please be aware that eligibility criteria must be complied with for 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 British applicants continue to be eligible, the change of the beneficiary’s legal situation will imply a cessation of EU funding’.

We are not due to leave the EU until March 2019, so there is plenty of time to apply for funding before that date.

Telephone:

(01522) 740818 from within the UK

+44 (01522) 740818 from outside the UK