Information Policy

Finland suggests solutions for smart city development in Danang

DANANG - Intelligent technology solutions that provide a backbone for addressing traffic congestion and developing tourism are factors Danang should focus on to become a smart city, said Finnish experts.

The Embassy of Finland in Vietnam and Danang government held a conference on cooperation in smart city development on March 21 in the central coast city on the occasion of the Vietnam visit by a delegation of Finnish officials and businesses, mainly from Turku City.

IDC launches smart cities Europe awards

IDC Government Insights is launching the first IDC Smart Cities Europe Awards. The awards are designed to recognise the progress cities are making in executing smart city projects and provide a forum for sharing best practices to help accelerate the development of smart cities at all levels across the region.

The rising tide for the democratic control of water in Barcelona

When the citizen platform, Barcelona En Comú, crowdsourced its manifesto for the Barcelona city elections in 2015, its most popular proposal was to remunicipalize the city’s water company, Agbar (subsidiary of the multinational, Suez Environnement).

How smart cities initiative is marrying municipalities to big data endeavours

It’s been nearly a decade since the City of Helsinki turned on its valves to open data, publicly releasing information on everything from regional carbon emissions to the distribution of business permits.

WiFi4EU: Free WiFi for citizens!

The European Commission launched the WiFi4EU web portal on 20th March. As of now, municipalities all over Europe are invited to register their details ahead of the first call for projects in mid-May, for the chance to benefit from EU financing to build free public wireless internet hotspots. 

The WiFi4EU programme offers vouchers worth €15,000 for municipalities to set up Wi-Fi hotspots in public spaces, including libraries, museums, public parks, squares. 
How to apply for a WiFi4EU voucher?

• Registration phase: As of 20 March 2018, municipalities should sign up on the www.WiFi4EU.eu portal;
• Application phase: In mid-May 2018, the first call will be launched and registered municipalities can apply for a first lot of 1,000 WiFi4EU vouchers (€15,000 each). The vouchers will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis;
• Assignment phase: ensuring a geographic balance, the Commission will announce the 1,000 municipalities that will receive funding through the first call. Each participating country will receive at least 15 vouchers.

In the coming two years, four more WiFi4EU calls will be launched.

 

 

Source: https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/news/wifi4eu-free-wifi-citizens