Comcast said Thursday that it has turned on more than 1,000 Wi-Fi hotspots in the Chicago area for its high-speed Internet customers to connect to while they’re on the go.
There is no additional charge for Comcast Internet subscribers to access Xfinity Wi-Fi, as the service is called. Comcast is also running a promotion where anyone can use the hotspots for free between May 24 and July 4. After July 4, non-Comcast subscribers will get two free hours of Wi-Fi per month.
The hotspots are at places such as small- and medium-size businesses and have a range of several hundred feet. Some of the hotspots are outside. Users can look up hotspot locations at www.xfinity.com/wifi. They can also search for networks named “xfinitywifi” or “cablewifi” on their laptops and mobile devices.
In September, Mayor Rahm Emanuel unveiled a plan to install Wi-Fi in many city parks and expand Internet access in underserved areas. He is looking to private-sector partners to help build out these networks using city infrastructure.
Comcast’s Wi-Fi plan is not an official response to Emanuel’s Wi-Fi initiative, but Emanuel issued a statement of support for the new hotspots.
“Xfinity WiFi fits well with the city’s successful efforts to bridge the digital divide,” he said.
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