Wireless internet project to connect Corktown

If you have have a wireless card in your computer, chances are you see the names of your neighbours’ WiFi networks from time to time. Does “default” or “linksys” or “One Zone_High Speed Internet” sound familiar?

From my apartment at Queen and Parliament, I can see at least 12 different nearby wireless networks. Each of those represents about $50/ month in internet service from Bell, Rogers, or another ISP. That’s a lot of people paying a lot of money for a lot of bandwidth, especially considering that many broadband internet subscribers only use about 1%  of their monthly limit.

So with that in mind, this past January, I started Wireless Corktown. It’s a community WiFi project with a goal to share fast, inexpensive internet among Corktown residents and business, and provide free, throttled internet access to visitors. I started by asking my neighbours to install small, wireless repeaters in their windows. These wireless repeaters, which cost around $50, work together to create a “mesh network.” This type of network can cover a large area, and allows many people to share a small number of internet connections. Additional repeaters and internet connections can be added at any time to make the service faster and the signal reach farther.

This same mesh technology has been used to blanket downtown San Francisco with free WiFi, and also to provide internet access in developing countries around the world.

Community wireless seems to be a growing trend, and even some ISPs are getting on board. Toronto’s Wireless Nomad encourages internet sharing, and Chatham-based Teksavvy’s terms of service are mesh- network-friendly.

Currently, the Wireless Corktown project has 7 repeaters, and covers the corner of Queen and Parliament. With help and interest, it can expand to cover nearby homes and businesses. Since early January, more than 400 people have used the network. If you’re in the neighbourhood with your laptop or other wireless device, feel free to connect. Just look for the Corktown_Free signal.

If you live nearby and would like to get involved, I’d love to hear from you.For more information and contact details, follow the link to Wireless Corktown at corktown.ca