Two community housing buildings in Vanier will soon get free Wi-Fi service in common areas, thanks to a pilot project aimed at bridging the current digital divide in urban neighborhoods.

Starting this fall, high-quality Wi-Fi will be available in the lounge and basement laundry rooms at 251 and 255 Donald Street.

The project is a joint effort between Ottawa Community Housing, the nonprofit internet provider National Capital FreeNet, Hiboo Networks, and the Canadian Internet Registration Authority.

Bryan Gilligan, chief community and tenant support officer, said this is the first of its kind in Ottawa community housing. He added that OCH has been working with National Capital FreeNet for the past six to seven years in preparation for this.

Gilligan also added that it is very difficult to live a full, healthy, and connected life in Canada without internet access.

He said that although tenants may have smartphones, they are not always able to afford internet services. This is where the pilot project comes in.

There are still gaps in internet access in urban areas

Shelly Robinson, executive director of National Capital FreeNet, said that internet access has long been a challenge in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities.

But it still exists in the urban context as well.

Based on a survey conducted by National Capital FreeNet with OCH tenants during the 2020 pandemic, it found that 23 percent of those surveyed do not have home internet.

Although people are now able to access Wi-Fi in public places again, the results highlight a broader issue. She said this means they are frankly largely completely excluded from many things.

Robinson said that providing free connectivity will help during workshops in the building, including tax clinics and planned hands-on digital literacy workshops.

But being able to access high-speed internet in a common area of the building can also give people the chance to sit in a public place with friends to watch videos or stream music.