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There's no such thing as a free (Wi-Fi) lunch

“69  main squares and public gardens around Malta and Gozo will offer free wi-fi in the coming weeks, bringing the number of open spaces offering the service to 88.” That’s wonderful news and all those involved in this project should be lauded with more than a pat on the back. But is free Wi-Fi sustainable in the long term? Does this project fit in within a wider plan or is it just a play by ear routine?

MCA CEO Philip Micallef, PS Chris Said and Minister Gatt have all expressed their enthusiasm about this project “bridging the digital divide” and this is definitely the kind of idea that makes something like Vision 2015 less words and more action. We do not intend to be the wet blankets and killjoys here at J’accuse but it is important not to lose a sense of perspective. While it is true that this kind of service is “similar to what is offered in other countries” there is one missing bit of info in all of this.

Take Luxembourg. We had free Wi-Fi “Hot Spots” a couple of years back. The city center included well signed areas where you could access the public service. After a while though the public service became a paid service. You could  register and buy credit to access the wifi system. Free-riders could go to restaurants such as McDonald’s, Books and Beans (Pierre Meilak’s old haunt) and Urban for example. Like most European cities though the trend was more for paying for credit for public WiFi than for free availability.

Wi-Fi Alliance logo
Image via Wikipedia

When travelling in Europe you can buy credit with Wi-Fi providers like Orange, T-Mobile and others and use their many hotspots around the main towns. Sadly (for Europe) even most hotels require extra payment for the wi-fi service. Few (such as the Campanile chain) offer free wi-fi. The “free” element is excellent to get people used to the benefits of browsing when out but it costs money. My honest question is will the Maltese service be sustainable in the long run?

Lest you batter me with the anti-government critic baton I am genuinely asking whether there is a long term plan. It is all well and good to set up wi-fi hotspots and encourage their use but what will happen in a year or two when the accounts department starts to creak and austerity measures hit the service? I would strongly advise clear, up-front information – that the service will probably cost money in the future is highly probable (unless sponsors are found). Even in the case of wi-fi there is a cost… and government NEVER gives you anything for free.

Answers please.

Times Report

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7 replies on “There's no such thing as a free (Wi-Fi) lunch”

free wifi is economically sustainable in a retail scenario if it drives customers in – I’d choose a free-wifi-enabled cafe over a non any day. In London I also got myself a Starbucks (shock horror … yes I know …) loyalty card because that entitles you to free wifi in their outlets.

As to governments/councils supplying it …I guess it’s as good a stunt as any, given the suppliers. Ahjar jonfquhom f’free wifi minn spam leaflets …

Starbucks are back to free wifi? Last I was in London I was told it was available against payment. I agree with your point re: retail has its economically sustainable advantages – just ask the Scicluna brothers at Jubilee. On that point I always wondered how difficult it could be to have wifi codes printed on receipts.

Re govt/council. As I said -it’s a good move but sustainable for how long?

Re: Having wifi codes on receipts – it’s not difficult at all. I’ve been to coffee shops in Lusaka, Kampala and Damascus (Hardly the holy trinity of telecommunications) which used this system.

Presumably the ‘free’ wifi won’t remain free forever – once enough people get used to using it, they’ll soon find that it’s costing them too much to maintain. Nevertheless, even if (when?) they switch to a payment model, at least the infrastructure will already be in place.

I think it’s inevitable that at some point the traditional ISP model will die out, and people will pay for an internet service they can access from anywhere. We’ve already got the first generation of such a model in mobile broadband and USB internet dongles – eventually ISPs will minimise duplication and simply share networks with each other, providing maximum coverage.

A bit like ATM usage. Remember when you could only use an HSBC debit card at an HSBC ATM? Sounds archaic now, doesn’t it?

Yes Fanon. I agree that “free” wifi is not here to stay. What I was trying to point out was the marketing flaw behind not telling people this straight away from day one. It’s a mixture of political responsibility and education at the same time. Our tradition is full of the government nanny type of measures where we “expect” the government to hand back all forms of goodies. This has driven inroads into all sorts of ideas about social development. We have a demos that is unable to come to terms with the concept of accountability, public funds, long-term planning. That very demos, when called upon to choose between the pathetic options it has before it has proved time and time again to be unable to stick the middle finger up to both.

I know you are probably asking “all this from a promise of free wifi”? Babysteps I say. Babysteps. Discussing the sustainability of a free wifi system and the responsibility of the government behind such a promise is a babystep in itself. (and Vince – till next election? funny but I don’t recall any of the PLPN ever removing anything that is “free” so easily – my bet is that you will not be hearing Joseph declaring that as of 2013 wifi will be against payment).

And you’d win your bet. I woulda said the same if the PL was in power. The only difference between the two is the N and the L.

(re Jubilee) exactly

(re Starbucks) well at least a couple of months ago they had free wifi – but only if you get their loyalty card (which is free anyway, so duh)

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