In the wake of an accounting scandal at Spanish Wi-Fi provider Let's Gowex SA, cities around the world are scrambling to figure out whether deals they have with the company to create hot spots will still go ahead, the Wall Street Journal reported today. Officials in cities from Dublin to Dubai signed deals with Gowex to create hot spots or boost connectivity in parks and neighborhoods. Over the weekend, Gowex admitted to falsifying its accounts and said that it would file for bankruptcy protection. New York City's Economic Development Corp., which signed a deal for Gowex to provide 60 hot spots throughout its five boroughs, has reached out to Gowex representatives, but discussions have been inconclusive, spokesman Ian Fried said yesterday. The group has spent $185,000 of $245,000 it had allocated to a Gowex contract, he said.
