Wireless Internet in Esquimalt is about to go through a major expansion.
The township has agreed to a five-year, non-exclusive deal to allow Shaw Communications to install wireless equipment on municipal infrastructure. In exchange, the company will provide free public wireless Internet access in municipal buildings, parks and sports fields.
“We’re excited. It’s fantastic,” said Mayor Barb Desjardins. “People will be able to come sit in a park and hook themselves up.”
The municipality currently provides free wireless Internet access at the municipal hall, the recreation centre and Archie Browning arena.
Under the new deal, it will be expanded to 19 locations, including Archie Browning, the library, the teen centre, sports fields and parks.
There will be no cost to the municipality. In fact, once the Shaw Wi-Fi is installed, the existing Esquimalt Public Wi-Fi is to be removed, freeing up staff time spent supporting, troubleshooting and upgrading the existing system, a staff report says.
The estimated operating savings are $1,400 a year for a total of $7,000 over the life of the deal.
Jon Woodland, Esquimalt’s information technology manager, said no timeline for installation has been set but it will probably begin over the summer months.
In exchange for being able to mount its equipment on municipal infrastructure, Shaw offered the township a choice between free, unlimited access to the Wi-Fi system for all residents and visitors, or $5,000 a year paid as an upfront $25,000 fee to Esquimalt. In the latter case, only Shaw customers would have been given free, unlimited access and all others would be able to use the system twice a month for up to 20 minutes each time.
Council opted for free Internet for all. Desjardins said it’s a good deal for the township.
“Does it mean we have to have Shaw logos all over the municipality? No. It’s not going to be identified. It’s not exclusive, so if another server wanted to come in and do the same thing, we could entertain that,” she said.
“So council … felt there was no downside on this one.”
Esquimalt's free Wi-Fi
Under the deal, wireless Internet access will be provided to 19 locations:
• Esquimalt library
• Esquimalt municipal hall
• Recreation centres, sports centres and fields: Esquimalt Teen Centre, Archie Browning Sports Centre, Esquimalt Recreation Centre, Bullen Field, Brodeur Field, Lampson Park
• Parks: Anderson Park, Captain Jacobson Park, Esquimalt Gorge Park, Lugrin Park, Macaulay Point Park, Memorial Park, Paradise Park, Propeller Park, Saxe Point Park, Town Square, West Bay Walkway
