FR: Lyons tests free Wi-Fi
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Following the example of Paris, Lyons has become the second city in France to experiment with free Wi-Fi.
In September this year, the city of Paris announced the launch of some 225 free Wi-Fi ‘hot spots’ where anyone can connect to internet to consult on-line information or send and receive e-mails. Now the city of Lyons has revealed that it is starting a six-month trial period of free Wi-Fi hot spots. The chosen areas include well-known public places such as the Place Louis-Pradel (near the Opera) and Place Bellecour, and the rue de la République – the main shopping and pedestrian street in the centre of the city.
The new Wi-Fi zones will be set up by the telecoms companies SFR and Neuf Cegetel which were selected following a call for tender. “The aim of this experiment is to test and measure the use of these zones with a view to extending coverage to other areas,” noted the city authorities.
The announcement has come in the wake of concerns raised by employees of public places in Paris who claim that constant exposure to Wi-Fi is giving rise to health problems. Wi-Fi zones in several Parisian libraries have been turned off as a result. However, supporters of the move stress that this does not in any way put into question the project as a whole.
Further information:
* ZDNet.fr News
* 01net. News
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