Ile Sans Fil's Platform Works Its Way into Montreal Municipal Election

    
    All three candidates have highlighted importance of free wireless
    Internet access in Montreal
    

MONTREAL , Oct. 27 /CNW Telbec/ - Ile Sans Fil, a non-profit organization with 125 000 members, is rejoicing at the fact that the three main mayoral candidates acknowledge the importance of making wireless Internet (WiFi) more accessible to Montrealers.

" Montreal can position itself as a leader by spearheading a free wireless Internet access model" says Laurent Maisonnave, who presides over the organization. "We are thrilled to see that the three main parties share our point of view. We can only hope that awareness of this issue can be a first step towards a more significant digital plan for Montreal ."

Providing wireless Internet access for free across the Greater Montreal , Ile Sans Fil has been extending Montreal's free wireless network reach since 2003. The initiative's success combines a locally-developped open-source technology with a community-based business model, which has since been reproduced in other municipalities, in Quebec and internationally.

"Globally speaking, this is an enormous opportunity for Montreal to position itself as an innovator!" adds Mr. Maisonnave .

Other organizations have successfully reproduced Ile Sans Fil's model, notably ZAP Quebec , ZAP Sherbrooke and Monteregie Sans Fil. The support of local public institutions to these organizations confirms that aside from being competitive, Ile Sans Fil's open community model assures the transparency and accountability for its actions and investments.

    
    Additional information:

    - Projet Montreal : Expanding wireless Internet coverage; support
      provision of free wireless Internet coverage in the city's public
      spaces (...). (Commitment 7.23) http://j.mp/isf-projet-en
    - Union Montréal : Installing hot spots in public places (indoor and
      outdoor) and parks to provide citizens and visitors alike with access
      to a wireless network. http://j.mp/isf-union-en
    - Vision Montréal : progressively deploy, beginning in the central
      neighbourhoods and then citywide, a Wi-Fi Internet access.
      http://j.mp/isf-vision-eng
    - Public study on expanding Montreal's wireless network (french version)
      http://j.mp/isf-etude
    - International study on wireless usage in public spaces
      http://j.mp/isf-etude-wifi
    

About Ile Sans Fil

Ile Sans Fil provides free wireless Internet access to its 125 000 members with the help of partners, businesses, offices and public spaces, who share a portion of their wireless Internet (WiFi) connection.

Created in 2003, Ile Sans Fil is a non-profit organization whose innovative technology and business model have helped it become a leader in Wireless Internet Access. For more information on Ile Sans Fil, please visit HYPERLINK "http://www.ilesansfil.org/welcome/" http://www.ilesansfil.org/welcome/

For further information: Laurent Maisonnave, President, Ile sans fil, Cell: [phone], [email protected]