A popular program that provides free Wi-Fi all over London's downtown core is being scrapped to make way for new technology.

The London Area Wireless Network (LAWN) is used by 1,100 people a day, with about 42 per cent of people using the service to download videos from YouTube and Netflix.

"As technology changes at a rapid pace, so does the natural evolution of public Wi-Fi networks," Downtown London, the advocacy group for core merchants, said in a statement about the cancellations of the program.

The program is being cancelled because of rising costs and because there have been "new developments" with public Wi-Fi in London.

That includes a pilot project approved by city councillors last month for Rogers Communication to install 4G+ and 5G cellular technology in three test sites in the city, including downtown.

"Downtown London is always focused on the most effective use of dollars to benefit our members and downtown visitors," the statement from the merchant group said.

"Renewing licenses for previous generation technology and aging equipment, and which would soon be redundant with an upcoming city project, would not represent a sound investment on behalf of our members."

Downtown London's CEO Janette MacDonald said upgrading the system would cost between $75,00 and $100,000.

Free Wi-Fi is available at the Covent Garden Market and the London Public Library, as well as local downtown businesses.

The LAWN Wi-Fi was cut off on June 26. Downtown London has been covering all of the capital and operating costs of the network since 2012.