Late last year, San Francisco announced that free public Wi-Fi would come to Chinatown. Now, the first phase of the free wifi has officially launched, with a portion of Grant Avenue now equipped with internet access. The first phase includes wifi on Grant Avenue between Bush Street and Broadway, Saint Mary’s Square, Portsmouth Square, and Willie Woo Woo Wong Playground. Plus, the free wifi is available on Jackson between Grant Avenue and Stockton Street, and Pacific Avenue between Grant Avenue and Powell Street.
“Delivering free, reliable, and high-speed internet service to public spaces and homes throughout Chinatown marks a major step toward ensuring that every San Franciscan has access to what they need in order to learn, work, and thrive in today’s world,” said City Administrator Carmen Chu in a recent statement. “Grant Avenue is a key destination for visitors to Chinatown, and I am thrilled to know that it will be supported by state-of-the-art technology that helps our local businesses and communities continue to prosper. I thank the Department of Technology team for their dedication to delivering for Chinatown.”
The implementation of the free Wi-Fi is just the first phase, with the project expected to be completed by the end of 2026. The Wi-Fi will extend to Stockton Street between Bush Street and include smaller side streets.
Chinatown regularly hosts popular community events, including numerous Lunar New Year celebrations in the past few weeks. The neighborhood also hosts night markets featuring local food vendors, which are known to draw thousands. If you haven’t visited the historic neighborhood recently, we highly recommend it. Check out our guide to Chinatown here.
