The City of Toronto launched its own Wi-Fi network in the downtown financial district Wednesday, reports the CBC.
“This is an historic day for Toronto, for Canada and for Toronto Hydro Telecom,” said David Dobbin, president of the city-owned utility that built the network. “Our new Wi-Fi network is a powerhouse combination of leading-edge technology.”
The coming of the network has been long-awaited by city residents, who have been looking for an inexpensive and convenient way to communicate through their computers, whether they are sitting in their offices, on the streetcar or in their front yard at home.
Access will be free for the first six months. After that, it will cost $5 an hour, $10 a day or $29 per month.
The service has been opposed by commercial providers who say it is a government-subsidized service that has no place competing with the private sector. A variety of private-sector companies offer Wi-Fi networks in Toronto, but most are limited to a single building and the surrounding area, such as around coffee shops and university buildings.
The Toronto Hydro Telecom One Zone will be launched in 5 stages beginning in September 2006. By year-end six square kilometers of the downtown core will be blanketed in wireless Internet access. Some 235 city blocks will be blanketed with WiFi using 225 Access Points and 25 fibre connection points.
“I don’t think Ted Rogers is going to be quaking in his boots or losing a lot of sleep,” said Ian Grant, a technology consultant.
