Vancouver aims for wireless network in downtown core

(CBC) - The City of Vancouver is looking to create a wireless broadband network throughout the downtown core.

On Tuesday, the city issued a request for "expressions of interest" from organizations willing to build and finance the internet network on the provincial website BC Bid, where government contracts are posted.

If approved, the pilot project would cover 2.3 square kilometres of downtown Vancouver.

Councillor Peter Ladner, who has been pushing the idea, told CBC News the challenge is to find partners to fund the project because the city doesn't want to bill taxpayers.

"We are looking for somebody who wants to come forward with a business plan where the payment would either be coming from consumer subscribers, or from some company or public institution," said Ladner.

City staff threw cold water on previous attempts to set up a broadband network, arguing it would be impossible to implement without a cost to taxpayers.