Wi-Fi Italia: Italy’s Free Internet App

Most savvy travelers have found ways around the typically limited internet access when traveling in foreign countries. From purchasing a cheap local SIM card to mooching off the free WiFi at cafes, restaurants and hotels, a fairly strong WiFi connection is never too far away if you happen to be in an industrialized area. But whether you’re schlepping through the streets of Rome or wandering the vineyards of Tuscany, you may never have to disconnect from WiFi in Italy.

To meet the needs of visitors who can’t resist posting and tagging their photos to social media at soon as humanly possible, the Italian government developed and launched a nationwide WiFi app called Wi-Fi Italia. Available for both iOS and Android devices, the app originally became available at the start of this past summer tourist season, but only in a few regions to start. By the end of the year, developers anticipate users will be able to access WiFi from 28,000 access points and hope to branch into further public and even private spaces at the start of 2018.

Government officials note this service not only benefits locals and visitors, but also can clue in officials to the most crowded areas of their cities at any given time of day. Due to overcrowded tourist attractions in cities like Venice and Florence, the government had to implement various visitor restrictions, and the app can help officials monitor the effects of these restrictions and learn whether others need to be put in place.