Free Wi-Fi is good, but not at any price

The Social Democrats (S) are today proposing free access to wireless networks (Wi-Fi) in public places in all municipalities. The proposal can of course help to increase digital participation and make public information more accessible to local citizens. And, as we all know, free is always good. Or is it?

It is one thing for municipalities to fund free connectivity in a school or library for a limited time, but to do so in entire city centers is quite another. The Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR) wants municipalities to wait because the service could be illegal, possibly violate competition neutrality and be beyond the municipalities' powers. Mikael Damberg, on the other hand, believes that no telecom operator risks being eliminated by the proposal. "This may be true in the short term, but when political proposals are made, the long-term consequences must be taken into account. And not just for an upcoming election.

SKL urges municipalities to wait because it may be illegal for them to provide the service. Apart from that, I think it is wrong in substance for municipalities to use tax money in this way. Public money should not be spent on offering something that the market already provides. In addition, I wonder whether Mr Damberg thinks that, in the long run, it will be interesting for market players to continue to invest in an area where there is no income?

Of course, free is good, but not at any price.