Bologna unplugged: Italian city goes wi-fi

The Italian city of Bologna is to offer free high-speed wi-fi beginning on 12 June, according to an announcement on its website.

The city's deputy mayor said in a statement the Iperbole Wireless Project is the first to offer coverage within a historic centre in a major Italian city.

The network was deployed by Acantho, a local ISP, and Hi-Tel, a RoamAD partner. Financial backers of the project include the City of Bologna, Laboratori G Marconi and the University of Bologna, according to a statement from RoamAD.

Citywide wi-fi networks are on the rise as some officials begin to view internet access as a utility. In the US, metro wireless networks are in the works in Chicago, New Orleans and Philadelphia, as well as in some smaller communities. EarthLink and Google are also trying to build a free wi-fi network for hilly San Francisco.

Candace Lombardi writes for CNET News.com