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Philadelphia launches free wifi finder and dashboard
Tools helps residents find available free wifi while the dashboard highlights areas where enhanced connectivity is needed to help close the digital divide.
Philadelphia’s Office of Innovation and Technology is launching a free wifi finder and dashboard to help bridge the digital divide.
The tools are powered by an open dataset and are designed to improve access to the internet for residents and provide key insights for industry professionals.
Direct access to broadband services
The Philly Free Wi-Fi Finder helps residents find nearby available wifi and the Philly Free Wi-Fi Dashboard provides transparency on the initiative to install high-quality internet in 180-plus City-owned sites.
Following Mayor Cherelle Parker’s announcement of the renewal of the Verizon Franchise agreement, the Office of Innovation and Technology reinforced its commitment to ensuring Philadelphians have the resources they need to stay connected.
“Expanding access to affordable, high-quality internet is important for Philadelphian’s economic growth, opportunity and active participation in today’s digital economy”
These new tools align with the mission of offering direct access to information on broadband services for both residents and industry stakeholders.
“Expanding access to affordable, high-quality internet is important for Philadelphian’s economic growth, opportunity and active participation in today’s digital economy,” said Parker. “These tools are helping to close the digital divide, drive innovation, and create a stronger, more connected city for all.”
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The Philly Free Wi-Fi Finder is a user-friendly tool designed to help Philadelphians find locations with free, high-speed wifi that best meet their needs. By simply entering their address, residents can explore locations nearby with reliable internet access.
Key features include:
- Easy address-based search for free city wifi options and where computer services are available
- 105 free wifi sites
- 51 of 108-plus Verizon Franchise Agreement completed installations since October 2024.
In addition to helping residents, the Office of Innovation and Technology is also supporting policymakers, internet service providers, community organisations and others with the launch of the dashboard. This platform offers real-time data on broadband access, adoption trends, and areas in need of enhanced connectivity.
Key features include:
- Graphs providing transparency on project completion
- City wifi coverage maps to identify service gaps
- Detailed demographic information by census tract, zip code, council district
- Census data on broadband and device access.
“Access to reliable, affordable internet is not a luxury. It’s a necessity,” said Melissa Scott, chief information officer for the City of Philadelphia. “With these new tools, the Office of Innovation and Technology is making it easier for residents to get online while also providing industry leaders with the data they need to expand digital access across our city.”
As Philadelphia continues to invest in digital equity, the Office of Innovation and Technology remains committed to supporting residents and industry leaders alike. The City’s Open Data Programme works with departments and technical teams to create comprehensive data services that benefit diverse public audiences. The programme publishes new open datasets, maintains and updates existing ones, and manages the infrastructure for data-sharing both internally and publicly. The City reported that as the programme evolves, it is increasingly focused on building datasets that power dashboards and finder apps to make City data more accessible and useful to a wider range of stakeholders.
Why not try these links to see what our SmartCitiesWorld AI can tell you.
(Please note this is an experimental service)
How does the Philly Free Wi-Fi Finder improve digital inclusion for residents?What data sources power the Philly Free Wi-Fi Dashboard's connectivity insights?How can policymakers use the dashboard to address broadband service gaps?What role does the Verizon Franchise Agreement play in expanding city wifi?How does open data support innovation in Philadelphia's digital equity efforts?Latest City Profile
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