ProvinciaWiFi: A 1000 hotspot free, public, open source Wi-Fi network

The diffusion of smartphones and tablets established a clear need for broadband connections in public areas in our cities and Wi-Fi technology has proved itself to be a powerful instrument for public administrations seeking to create Internet access points in urban settings. This article reports the history and the facts of probably the biggest free Wi-Fi network in Europe developed and promoted by a public administration and the choices (the adoption of an open source infrastructure above all) made during the project.