Top WiFi-friendly Cities in the World
A few years ago, the Australian magazine The Age ranked the world’s cities in WiFi-friendliness.
Top 10 cities:
- Seoul
- Singapore
- Tokyo
- Hongkong
- Stockholm
- San Francisco & Silicon Valley
- Tallinn
- New York City
- Beijing
- New Songdo
Would today’s list look the same? What do you think is the most WiFi-friendly city in the world?
This post was modified from a post from 2007.
Erica, I have to say that in my experience the European cities are by far the best. I’m a professional travel writer and never go anywhere without my mac PowerBook and I love being in a public square in Antwerp, Brussels, Copenhagen, Stockholm Tallinn, Riga, or even Vilnius, and just opening the laptop, and voila, a strong wireless signal – no need to enter any codes and no need to pay – and you can send and receive email immediately. It’s curious that an Australian newspaper should publish the story – I’ll have to go and check it out – as Australia has the worst public wireless system of any city/country in the world. And not only wireless, their broadband is appalling also, so much so that it was recently a huge election issue. We’re Australians but have lived in the Middle East for 10 years, and have recently been visiting family in Australia, and we have to say the internet access is far better and cheaper in Dubai.
Lara, Must say I agree with you and was actually a bit surprised they didn’t have more European cities in the list.
Excellent post. Thanks for sharing. Cheers!
Funny, I live in SF, and don’t really think it belongs on that list. Since I work from home, I often try to venture out to cafes and the like with Internet connections, and they’re either hard to come by or the cafe charges you an arm and a leg to log on.
I’ve worked in other cities, like Zaragoza, Spain, where the city has a free, citywide wireless connection. I think Philly’s doing that now, too. More cities–and moreso, AIRPORTS–need to jump on board with that!
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Great post Erica. I have to say Hong Kong is one of the best places in Asia. Free throughout the airport, cafes in the CBD and around shopping centres. I wish NZ woke up to WiFi it has to be one of the worst places to find access,and incredibly expensive.
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Are u sure? I can’t found my country…
interesting list.
I think it depends on whether you mean free wifi or pay networks. (San Francisco doesn’t do so well in the first category but very well in the second).
To me, the odd selection on this list is New Songdo, which isn’t really a city but a planned community (and which is still in the process of being built).
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Taipei should be there. They have city wide wifi coverage.
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Thank you all for commenting! I’m sure we all agree that more cities and airports should offer free wireless connection.
I agree with Singapore. It’s free in the airport and in most hotels.
London has improved a lot – every Pret a Manger has free wifi and lots of independent places do too. And paid networks are abundant.
I agree that Australia’s broadband is crap – it’s not so much the speeds as the download limits that trip most households up.
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Another vote for Taipei here. For USD$15 per month you get access to the citywide wifi. You can buy the card in any starbucks.
That’s a handy list. Thanks! I would add Salta, Argentina to the list. The city government has a WiFi network throughout the entire city and it’s free for all to use!! Probably the first of its kind, at least in Latin America!
Free wi-fi is everywhere in Bangkok and Saigon (cafes, bars, restaurants etc.). And to have wireless internet at home (in Saigon) is so cheap – unlimited use for around US$9 a month! Makes me not want to move back to Australia where internet is so slow and expensive…
I have to agree with the first commenter, from my own personal experiences I would have to say that most of Europe has pretty good wireless coverage. I am curious about the comment regarding Taipei and the city-wide wireless they have.
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Tokyo should not be on the list. Despite being a technologically advanced city, Wi-Fi is pretty much nonexistent here. The few Wi-Fi hotspots are operated by one of a few communication companies that make users pay for Internet service. The Japanese don’t seem to mind, though, because they seem content with surfing the web on their mobile phones.
I had no idea about that. The list above is from a few years back, so things have obviously changed since then. I’m not sure what these companies charge for internet access but I can see why many choose to surf on their mobiles (especially when they own smartphones and are on the go a lot).
Hi,
I visited San Francisco and I do not think they have a citywide wireless wifi system. It would be great if they did. They may have cafes that offer wifi.
Gino
Hi Gino,
Yes, it would certainly be great. Haven’t visited San Francisco myself yet so am not sure where the city stands on that point. A free citywide WiFi system would be preferable!
definitely singapore is one of the best wifi city in the world….small country yet so progressive.
Hello, just doing some browsing for my San Francisco 4g website. Lots of information out there. Looking for something else, but nice site. Cya later.
Off to Tallinn in few weeks told they are the best in Europe ??
Haven’t been to Tallinn yet. Do let us know what you thought!