Wireless Internet may become public utility in Budapest

According to a report on magyarhirlap.hu, a plan for free wireless Internet access throughout central Budapest has been drawn up to be completed by the end of 2007. From September, anyone can use the test system on Liszt Ferenc tér.

The City of Budapest has established different service areas for companies to bid for in the fall. The companies with the most favorable offers will win ten-year contracts to provide free wireless access.

Successful bidders will get the right to use power provided to street lighting owned by the city and electric company Elmű in exchange for providing free services to residents and the local governments. Wifi transmitters running on the batteries that store electricity for the night cost Ft 150 to 200 million (€548,000 to 731,000). Public lighting in Budapest is under electrical load only at night.

The service will cost a total of Ft 5 to 6 billion (€18 to 22 million) to launch and could be city-wide by the end of 2008.

One question that remains is whether there are enough potential users in Budapest to make the investment worthwhile.

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