MappingTheWeb //

I met a friend at Starbucks today and the topic of wifi came up. With many coffee shops and cafes now offering free wifi to customers, it’s only a matter of time before this becomes the industry norm. At present, some establishments charge for the service, but my guess is that as times goes by and prices decrease, free wifi won’t be seen as a privilege or bonus - it will be expected.

Now, let’s take this one step further to a city level. Already, many US cities have implemented or will implement free city-wide wifi networks. These cities include, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Hartford, Mountain View, and Portland to name a few. In addition, several Canadian cities are also venturing down this path. The most notable and leader in this area (of all places) is Fredericton, New Brunswick. Not exactly a corporate hub. Nonetheless, this small Eastern Canadian city has pioneered the free citywide wifi movement. Expect others to follow.

In my opinion, it is a very smart move if it can be budgeted properly. A city can benefit from a more informed and resourceful population. However, if the costs and infrastructure far exceed the expected rise in productivity, then the timing may not be right. But as broadband costs continue to plunge and wifi becomes an industry standard, my bet is that we will see more and more cities launch free wifi networks.

Let’s keep our fingers crossed and laptops ready.