The City of Vancouver announced Friday an expansion to the free WiFi network available all over town.
In partnership with Shaw Communications, Inc. Vancouver’s free public WiFi is one of the biggest networks of its kind in North America.
Now the free WiFi hubs are running at over 500 locations in the downtown core and around the city.
Mayor Gregor Robertson calls this “a huge win for our residents and businesses,” adding that the free WiFi network “helps to move Vancouver forward in becoming a truly leading smart city.”
Vancouver first launched #VanWiFi in 2015 at 42 locations. There was a small expansion in 2016, followed by this significant increase in 2018.
Among the new areas where the public can now tap into free wireless internet include:
Broadway (Oak to Cambie)
Commercial Drive (Venables to 1st Ave)
Davie Street (Jervis to Burrard)
Denman Street (from Davie to W. Georgia)
Downtown Eastside
Gastown
Granville Street (from Drake to Cordova)
Main Street (Broadway to E. 16th Ave)
Robson Street (from Denman to Burrard)
Additionally, all 125 Mobi by Shaw Go bike station locations will now be free WiFi hotspots.
Right now, says the City of Vancouver, about 550 hubs are active, with more coming on in the upcoming months. This map shows all of the hotspots.
Wondering how to hop on? Here are the instructions:
Select the VanWiFi network name from your device’s WiFi settings menu
Open your browser and you will be automatically re-directed to the WiFi terms and conditions page. Read and then click the button to accept the terms and conditions.
You will be re-directed to the VanWiFi home page and are then connected to the internet.
No personal information is required to use the network.
