LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Los Angeles residents will be given free or inexpensive wireless Internet access within two years under an ambitious plan announced by city Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

The LA WiFi Initiative, which would provide Internet services to the city's four million residents, will cost around $60 million and would be funded by advertisers and telecommunication providers.

"By giving every resident high-speed access, we will transform Los Angeles into a cutting-edge city across every neighborhood and every economic sector," Villaraigosa said.

The Los Angeles City Council will seek bids for the project later this year, and would seek to have the plan up and running by 2009, officials said.