Greek museums are in for a technological update. For years, while museums have been recording increased tickets sales, Wi-Fi availability has been limited. In fact, on the island of Delos, even a cell phone signal is hard to come by, a point raised recently by curator for the Cyclades, Dimitris Athanasoulis at the last meeting of the Central Archaeological Council (CAC).

Fortunately, this is about to change. Thanks to a sponsorship program by COSMOTE, Greece’s national phone company-affiliated mobile network, a total of 19 museums and archaeological sites in Greece will eventually be covered with Internet access and digital tour programs.

PILOT SCHEME
The scheme is expected to be piloted around spring 2016 at four sites – Akrotiri of Thera, Delos, the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes and the Byzantine and Christian Museum.

The aim is for the company’s broadband services and 3G, 4G and Wi-Fi internet connectivity to be made available at the country’s archaeological sites, monuments and museums.

The sponsorship of COSMOTE was approved by CAC, while individual assessments will follow for each of the areas that are to be included in the program, such as the National Archaeological Museum, the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki, Heraklion Archaeological Museum, Cape Sounion, Olympia and many more.

As part of the program, the Acropolis has had Wi-Fi connectivity since August 2015. 

Originally published in Kathimerini.