WiFi4EU: Techno-economic analysis of a key European Commission initiative for public connectivity

Abstract

This paper analyses the WiFi4EU initiative, the measures proposed by the European Commission (EC) to speed up public access to Wi-Fi throughout Europe in the coming years, ranging from rapid mechanisms to subsidising the infrastructure. We set out to analyse how these measures are incorporated into the EU policies for building a Digital Single Market and the EC's regulatory tradition, and what the impact of this initiative is likely to be. As this innovative initiative will have an effect upon the network deployments strategies of operators and countries and it has been drawn up in a climate of uncertainties and delays, the article puts all of this into the context of the current European regulation debate and conducts a technoeconomic analysis to assess the expected impact of the initiative. We have observed a slight shift towards developmental models in the EC regulatory framework. Furthermore, the techno-economic analysis has revealed the limited extent of Community aid and the considerable variability of the equipment deployed and the expenditure involved. We have also highlighted the questionable formulation of the allocation mechanisms, and we have included certain examples or suggestions for optimisation.

Surveying 5G Techno-Economic Research to Inform the Evaluation of 6G Wireless Technologies

“…The aim of such an assessment paradigm is to be able to quantitatively evaluate the economic performance of different types of engineered systems, as well as quantify other impacts, for example, relating to energy consumption or environmental emissions. TEA techniques have been widely applied to model new technologies, including for 3G [75], 4G LTE [76]- [78], Wi-Fi [79], satellite broadband [80]- [83], WiMAX [84], femtocells [85], [86], point-to-point wireless backhaul [87], Intelligent Transport Systems [88], industrial networks [89], spectrum sharing [90], [91], smart meters [92], and fixed broadband [93], [94].…”

Revisiting Wireless Internet Connectivity: 5G vs Wi-Fi 6

“…The deployment of Wi-Fi APs in these scenarios has traditionally been based on a relatively simple 'plug and play' setup for a single piece of equipment. Increasingly the use of Wi-Fi mesh systems has become popular, whereby rather than a single AP, the system consists of a main hub with multiple linked nodes spatially distributed throughout a building or home which are capable of capturing and rebroadcasting information (Navío-Marco et al, 2019). Such an approach helps to eliminate areas with poor signal coverage, improving both speed and reliability for users.…”

Creating public value with municipal Wi-Fi networks: a bottom-up methodology

“…Even if the EC explicitly recognized that both program agendas were complementary and government services are a key factor in fostering broadband connectivity, joint programs in both areas have rather been scarce. When the "Wi-Fi for Europe" (WiFi4EU) initiative became a key element within the digital "Gigabit Society" strategy, it became obvious that European Commission actually did not have common strategy to promote wireless connectivity in public places (Navı ´o-Marco et al, 2019). In this context, the paper provides empirical evidence on the role of public services in promoting participation of its citizens in public affairs while driving at the same time wireless connectivity as a way to reduce digital inequality in different countries in the European Union.…”

“…With the development-oriented approach, in contrast, the focus was on encouraging government investments and facilitating the usage of ICT by stimulating the growth of public services. The European Commission seems to have favored the regulatory approach for some time (Navı ´o-Marco et al, 2019), but has also considered investment in public services such as e-health and e-government as a way to promote the information society and reduce the digital divide in the European Union. However, the role of these services in fostering wireless networks has rarely been discussed.…”

“…However, the role of these services in fostering wireless networks has rarely been discussed. Furthermore, it remained rather unclear who would be responsible for the coordination of the different local initiatives within the WiFi4EU scheme (Navı ´o-Marco et al, 2019). As a variety of these initiatives emerged as a result of this scheme, there was not any agreement about the (local, national or European) level at which the responsibilities for coordinating these initiatives should be allocated.…”