TORONTO – As previously reported, Toronto Hydro Telecom today announced plans to provide Wi-Fi coverage in the downtown core.
"We are proud to be the first company in Canada to deliver a ubiquitous Wi-Fi zone, which will provide Internet access as well as next generation applications," said David Dobbin, president, Toronto Hydro Telecom, in a press release.
"Wi Fi technology is the new benchmark for urban living. It’s standard equipment in many electronic devices, from laptops to portable entertainment units. We think it’s time to enable that technology to be used in what will be the largest Wi Fi zone in Canada. Today we’re opening the door for Toronto to join the ranks of other major international cities such as San Francisco, Philadelphia and London, England."
No matter that wireless surfers can already get wireless web access in many places in downtown Toronto already, including at may coffee shops which offer the "hotspot" bubble, an offer from Telus, Bell and Rogers.
Toronto Hydro Telecom’s plan makes a special point of calling it "the competitive telecommunications subsidiary of Toronto Hydro Corporation," and says the city-owned entity will install radio access points on streetlighting poles throughout the six square kilometer area (see map) that stretches from Jarvis Street west to Spadina Avenue, and from Front Street north to Bloor Street.
Installing the access points on streetlighting poles, which are evenly situated throughout the downtown service area, "will enable Toronto Hydro Telecom to avoid the pitfalls of most Wi-Fi service offerings whose access points are predominantly housed in coffee shops and restaurants, making connectivity sporadic or non-existent. The streetlighting poles are assets owned by Toronto Hydro Street Lighting Inc."
(Ed note: As a voracious wireless user, I’ve had little trouble logging into wireless networks in the city of Toronto – and to do it with a laptop, you need to sit in a restaurant or coffee shop anyway.)
"This is both an exciting and very important initiative for the City of Toronto," said Mayor David Miller in the release. "It puts us on the leading edge of the telecommunications industry nation-wide and globally. The applications for Torontonians and our various City agencies from libraries to public transportation and safety to economic development make this a historic moment in Toronto’s development as a world-class city."
The new Wi Fi zone will be implemented in stages. The first phase – located in the City’s financial core from Front Street to Queen Street, between Spadina Avenue and Church Street – is planned for completion at the end of June, 2006. The entire Wi Fi zone will be completely operational by December 31, 2006.
During the first six months of operation, Toronto Hydro Telecom will offer customers free access to its new Wi Fi zone, after which time a variety of access packages will be available at competitive rates. Telus, for example, charges $10 an hour.
An RFP for equipment vendors was issued on February 8, 2006. Once the vendor of record has been selected, installation of the radio access points will begin.
– Greg O’Brien
