For some time now, major cities in Switzerland have had wifi spots that give you free access to the Internet. So, on a fine day it’s pretty usual to see people sitting outside on a town bench, their laptops perched on their knees, checking their email and catching up on the latest news.

Yesterday, Monday, the City of Geneva announced a first. It’s equipped one of the main squares near to the University, the Place de Plainpalais, with wifi hotspots that are entirely solar powered.

This comes just in time for the Euro 2008 matches when Geneva is one of the eight places chosen to host the football competition.

The three access points have been fixed at a height of between eight and ten metres from ground level, to tall lamp posts around the square and are powered by solar panels.

It just remains to see whether the sun will also decide to play the game or whether the soccer fans will be left in the dark, obliged to choose another square.