Wireless infrastructure and the future of cities seems to be a hot topic today…

The Globe and Mail has an interesting article today that ties into my earlier post about MuniWireless and the Future of Cities. In tech columnist Jack Kapica’s, “Toronto aims to be high-tech hub“, we’re given a brief overview of the new “Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Strategy for the Toronto Region”.

Kapica summarizes,

“The report also calls for an internationally competitive public-access wireless Internet service to be put in place. It has a goal of attracting at least five new ICT multinational companies to the region, and increasing by 10 per cent the annual rate of formation of new companies.

The underlying rationale for this layer of infrastructure is traceable to the Floridian perspective on cities and their economies, that focuses on what Creative Economies (driven by creative class workers), need to accomplish in order to thrive.
That is, the provision of a public access wireless internet service is desirable as part of a general strategy of economic, cultural, and social development.

“the city [of Toronto] has all the right elements for a dynamic tech sector: universities, diversity, a Bohemian culture and a good ICT base in telecom infrastructure.”

Of course, the report doesn’t go as far as recommending free public WiFi, but it’s heartening to see that there are some people at the City finally becoming wise to the need for public WiFi in Toronto!