Free Internet Access: Policy Implications and Business Models

Internet access has an important impact on innovation, society development, and the economy of the country. The free connectivity to internet plays a vital part on government services, working practice, and efficiency of delivering various services to the country citizens. With the availability of cheap wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi, achieving country-wide free connectivity is not difficult and it has many advantages for the government as improves productivity, enhances country security, and creates knowledge-based society. The free connectivity also has advantages for the citizens of the country as it bridges digital divide, creates job opportunities, and motivates to develop a number of commercial business models. This paper explores the benefits of free internet access, business models, and policy implications through analysis of free Municipal Internet in United States and Europe.