Could Toronto have free public Wi-Fi by the end of next year?

Something Milan and Taipei—and even Fredericton and Moose Jaw—have in common: free Internet hotspots in parks, squares and other public spaces. Now councillor Josh Matlow wants to add Toronto to the list and he’s pushing to launch a pilot Wi-Fi program in Nathan Phillips Square by the end of next year. Free Internet, he says, will boost tourism, bolster Toronto’s reputation and bring more tech businesses into the city (in addition to being a nice perk for residents). We’re hopeful that Matlow can make his proposal happen, but Toronto’s previous efforts to bring free Wi-Fi to the masses aren’t exactly inspiring: nearly a decade ago, an experiment with free Wi-Fi quickly morphed into a paid service , and more recent efforts to set up wireless networks in TTC stations have yet to materialize. In other words, we’ll believe it when we’re streaming episodes of House of Cards in front of city hall. [National Post]