Every once in a while we hear about some sort of plan that promises citywide wi-fi in the near future.
And then it’s never really mentioned again.
Well, now Google’s on the case. The tech giant has been given permission to put antennas on light poles in parts of the Kansas City to test new technology that could lead to citywide wireless Internet access. Yes, the same Kansas City that was first privy to Google Fiber, the company’s 1 Gbps internet speed service.
The hope, of course, is that everything goes smoothly and citywide wi-fi service infiltrates Canadian cities soon thereafter.
Google is still unsure if the technology will work, how long the tests will take, or when it might be ready. So yeah, it might be entirely possible that we never hear of this again.
Ajit Pai of the Federal Communications Commission puts it this way: “Will it work? Have we struck a balance that will allow a variety of innovative uses to flourish? We will see.”
A few cities around the world are already close to achieving citywide wifi. Seoul is working to ensure every public space will have free Wi-Fi, while San Francisco residents have access to Wi-Fi in playgrounds, recreation centres and parks.
Here in Canada, Fredericton, New Brunswick has proven itself a wireless pioneer. It was one of the first cities to launch a free zone back in 2003 – four years before the first iPhone was even released.
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