Free Wi-Fi for All
A Connected Future for Portland
Access to the internet shapes how we learn, work, create, and care for one another. Yet far too many Portlanders are still disconnected, not by choice, but by cost and access.
That’s why we’ve begun building a network of free community Wi-Fi zones in downtown Portland. Starting in Old Town where connection is needed. These hotspots offer free, high-speed access to residents, houseless neighbors, students, and local businesses, helping bridge the digital divide across our city.
Our long-term goal is simple:
Make Portland one of the first cities in America to offer free Wi-Fi citywide.
Together, we’re imagining a Portland that’s powered by people, connection, and care — a city where access to information and opportunity flows as freely as the network itself.
At AfroVillage, we believe that digital connection is a form of justice.
Portland impact snapshot
Two
Free Wifi Zone
Between 1st and Couch.
Two pilot locations at Street Roots and Cafe UNITED
People Connected
2,000+
residents and visitors
Goal
Citywide Access
by 2690
Where free internet is growing
Portland joins a growing global movement to make digital access a public right
Mexico City, Mexico – Over 21,000 public hotspots, the largest free network in the world.
Tallinn, Estonia – Citywide free Wi-Fi available in nearly every public space.
Taipei, Taiwan – The iTaiwan program provides free Wi-Fi for locals and visitors.
Paris, France – Hundreds of free access points in parks, libraries, and museums.
Vienna, Austria – Free Wi-Fi at major plazas, trams, and city parks.
New York City, USA – Expanding LinkNYC network provides free high-speed access across boroughs.
Baltimore & Philadelphia, USA – City-sponsored hotspots serving underserved neighborhoods.
Why it matters
Free, reliable Wi-Fi opens doors — to education, to healthcare, to jobs, to creativity. It connects families, supports entrepreneurs, and strengthens neighborhoods.
Digital justice means everyone gets to participate in the future!