The City of Saskatoon has switched on free WiFi in the city’s core area. It’s a one-year pilot project that includes parts of the Pleasant Hill and Meadowgreen neighbourhoods.

The network, named “YXEPublicWiFi”, was activated Thursday. Anyone inside the pilot area, which includes approximately 1,500 residents, may now connect to WiFi.

The goal of the pilot project is to determine whether providing public, or free, WiFi will improve the quality of life for residents previously unable to because of barriers like the cost.

In a news release the City says the isolation imposed by COVID highlighted how the internet can sometimes be the only means of communicating or accessing things such as: legal and medical services, housing information, important safety information and public health orders, day-to-day transactions, and work and study opportunities.

The coverage area is between 19th St W and 21st St W and between Witney Ave S and Ave U South and was selected based on population data. Some of the influencing factors were the high percentage of youth, seniors, newcomers, and Indigenous persons.

Another consideration was proximity to City-owned infrastructure where the necessary equipment could be installed.

At the end of the one-year pilot, the City says, “its success will be measured by assessing usage, quality of service, adoption, and feedback from residents”.