The City of Penticton has signed a five-year partnership with Shaw Communications Inc. (TSX:SJR.B) to provide free Wi-Fi to the public in city locations regardless of whether users are Shaw customers, the city announced May 7.
The pact is similar to one that the City of Courtenay entered into with Shaw earlier this year.
There, free Wi-Fi Internet service is going to be made available at public buildings and in open spaces such as downtown streets and parks.
City of Vancouver staff is investigating ways that Vancouver could offer free Wi-Fi in parks and are expected to provide a report to the park board this fall.
Advocates for a free public Wi-Fi network in Vancouver, such as park board commissioner Trevor Loke, are leaning toward the city partnering with a private sector partner, such as Shaw.
“I’m optimistic that we can come up with a strategy that includes most costs taken by private partners who we work with,” Loke told Business in Vancouver.
He moved the successful park board motion last month to have city staff investigate free public Wi-Fi.
Shaw already pays the City of Vancouver rental fees because it uses city poles for its hotspot installations in the Granville Entertainment District, said City of Vancouver chief digital officer Jessie Adcock.
Those hotspots are part of Shaw’s network of more than 35,000 hotspots across Canada that enable Shaw customers to connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi at no additional cost.
Many cities around the globe provide free Wi-Fi in public spaces.
Governments help foot the bill in some cities. Other cities team up with a private sector partner, are dependent on advertising and sponsorships or get funding from private foundations.
“People on the go want to enjoy convenient connection to the Internet with their wireless-enabled devices throughout the city. They asked and we have delivered.”
