Free wireless internet access (WiFi) will be available in Dublin city centre and across Ballyfermot and Ballymun in just over a year's time under a new initiative from Dublin City Council.
Residents, workers and visitors to these areas will be able to use the internet without having to pay any telecommunications company for access, whether they are in their own homes, in a public park, on buses or in any building.
The council plans to start "building" its WiFi service network within the next few months, however, it risks running into conflict with the European Commission in relation to a potential breach of State aid rules.
WiFi allows internet access from any computer without the need for wires. WiFi "hot spots" (areas offering WiFi access) are already available in certain hotels and restaurants and in a number of public libraries. However, the council's service would allow free WiFi access in any building or outside.
Creating a WiFi network for the entire city would cost the council between €10 million and €20 million, so it has decide to roll out the service in three pilot areas before going ahead with a full service.
The council has chosen Ballyfermot, Ballymun and a section of the south city centre running from the Digital Hub near Cork Street to Trinity College and from the river Liffey to Dame Street. The capital cost of the pilot should amount to just under €2 million.
While the council intends to begin work on the pilot from September, it risks a battle with the EU which has recently ruled against the Czech Republic over the introduction of wireless broadband access in Prague. Telecommunications companies in Prague lodged a complaint after the city's municipal authority set up a free WiFi network.
The commission ruled last May that to remain within state aid rules the network could only carry public service sites with non-commercial content. This meant the free network could not be used for booking flights, buying items or accessing any site carrying advertising.
Fine Gael councillor Naoise O'Muiri believes it would not be practical to offer only public sector websites in Dublin and said the council intends to go ahead with a full service network.
"I couldn't advocate building a network of purely public service sites. It wouldn't be what people want and it would become a big white elephant sitting in the middle of Dublin city."
The council intends to issue notification of the pilot project to the commission, Mr O'Muiri said but it plans to go ahead with the project as it believes it is providing a valuable public service.
"We are proposing to build this network in these particular areas on the basis of market failure to provide broadband in areas of social disadvantage." While Ballyfermot and Ballymun are clearly areas of disadvantage Mr O'Muiri believes the city centre could also qualify because of the Liberties and pockets of disadvantage in the Pearse Street area.
While telecommunications companies could raise objections with the EU, the council is hoping to get these service providers on board on the basis that they could benefit in the future through the WiFi network encouraging greater internet use.
