S.A. aims for free Google public Wi-Fi



San Antonio officials are negotiating with Google Inc. to provide public outdoor Wi-Fi networks to the city as part of a deal to bring super-fast fiber-optic Internet service, said Hugh Miller, San Antonio's chief technology officer. Click ahead to see where free public Wi-Fi is already available in San Antonio. Read the full story on ExpressNews.com

- Kolten Parker Above: Jaime J. Garcia, right, who is about to retire from the Navy, enters his information in a computer to help him find employment at the Veterans Information Village and military Job Fair at Freeman Expo Hall A, last month. less San Antonio officials are negotiating with Google Inc. to provide public outdoor Wi-Fi networks to the city as part of a deal to bring super-fast fiber-optic Internet service, said Hugh Miller, San Antonio's ... more Photo: BOB OWEN, San Antonio Express-News Photo: BOB OWEN, San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 15 Caption Close S.A. aims for free Google public Wi-Fi 1 / 15 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio officials are negotiating with Google Inc. to provide public outdoor Wi-Fi networks to the city as part of a deal to bring super-fast fiber-optic Internet service, said Hugh Miller, San Antonio's chief technology officer.

Miller and other city leaders have discussed the possibility of public Wi-Fi with Google, but the conversations have centered around infrastructure and logistics and are still preliminary in nature.

“We are planning on doing whatever we need to do to help (Google) bring this service to San Antonio,” Miller told the Express-News. “We provide some type of public access to some parks, the airport and libraries now and if they want to augment that, it is a great option for us and for them.”

Google has not officially selected San Antonio for its gigabit “Fiber” service, but Mayor Julián Castro and other officials have said they expect San Antonio to be selected this year.

Additionally, Miller said a high-speed, publicly-accessible wireless Internet service, which would likely be free and in high traffic areas such as the River Walk, would be a “great asset” for the city and could push San Antonio closer to becoming a leading technology hub.

Google recently launched a test zone in Kansas City with free Wi-Fi near a shopping mall but has been secretive about specifics.

“We'd love to be able to bring outdoor Wi-Fi access to all of our “Fiber” cities, although we don't have any specific plans to announce right now,” said Jenna Wandres, a spokeswoman for Google in California.

Miller said the service could also be used in areas that don't have as much access to the Internet, such as lower-income neighborhoods, to bridge a gap of connectivity.

The fiber service costs about $70 per month, or $120 when bundled with cable service, in those markets.

For more details on this story visit ExpressNews.com or Thursday's print edition.

kparker@express-news.net

Twitter: @KoltenParker