At Magnolia Square in Tivat, the launch of the WiFi4WB initiative was officially marked today, providing this coastal town with free, fast and reliable public internet at one of its central locations.
The event, held at the Tivat Municipal Building and attended by representatives of the European Union, local authorities, partner institutions, and the private sector, is part of a coordinated series of events across the Western Balkans. Following the opening remarks, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Municipality of Tivat and GIZ, formally confirming the project’s implementation at the local level. The ceremony then continued outdoors, where attending guests symbolically performed the “first login” to the WiFi4WB network, marking the beginning of free internet access for the residents and visitors of Tivat.
The WiFi4WB initiative is part of the broader EU4Digital project, jointly funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), with the aim of accelerating the region’s digital transformation. The project is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), which coordinates activities across all six Western Balkan economies.
Inspired by the success of the EU WiFi4EU programme, which has brought free public internet to more than 7,000 communities across Europe, the WiFi4WB initiative delivers similar benefits to the Western Balkans. In Montenegro, 24 municipalities have been selected to install Wi-Fi access points at key public locations.
The Ambassador of the EU to Montenegro, Johann Sattler, emphasised that the WiFi4WB initiative contributes to aligning the Western Balkans with European digital standards and thereby supports Montenegro’s progress in the European integration process. “This project is about more than just technology – it delivers free, reliable and secure internet where people live, learn and work, while bringing the region closer to the EU Single Market even before accession. It provides tangible benefits for citizens and enables their full participation in the digital economy,” Ambassador Sattler stated.
Željko Komnenović, Mayor of Tivat, highlighted that the project further enhances the quality of life in the town and its attractiveness as a modern tourist destination:
“Tivat records a high number of visitors throughout the year, and in the digital era, good internet is a necessity. Magnolia Square hosts the local administration building, numerous hospitality venues, shops and service businesses, so I believe a large number of residents and visitors will benefit from free internet access.”
The telecom operator One, selected through a public tender conducted by GIZ, is responsible for the installation and maintenance of the network, as well as for providing internet services: “We are sending an important and symbolic message today, from Tivat. The WiFi4WB story is about digital accessibility and equality as European values, and about how far Montenegro has progressed on its European path. We are particularly pleased that One has been entrusted, as a telecom partner, to support the implementation of this initiative. For company One, which has been connecting Montenegro with the world for three decades, this is a natural continuation of our mission to be a reliable partner at every stage of our society’s development. This step is especially important to us because One shares the dream of Montenegro’s citizens that our country will become the next member of the European Union. In the digital context, every new signal, every new connection, also represents a new bridge to Europe,” stated Biljana Radusinović, Chief Human Resources Officer at One.
GIZ representative Ermin Smajlović underlined the importance of sustainable and equal access to the internet: “Through the WiFi4WB initiative, we are building concrete and sustainable solutions that improve digital connectivity across the Western Balkans. This approach lays the foundations for long-term availability of digital services and more balanced development of local communities in the region,” he said.
With today’s symbolic “first login”, Tivat has further strengthened its position as a modern, open and digitally connected destination.