On Monday, Mayor Andre Dickens joined City leaders and project partners to launch Atlanta Free, a new public Wi-Fi network providing free internet access in key areas of Downtown Atlanta. The network is now active around Centennial Olympic Park, City Hall and the Atlanta University Center, marking the first phase of a broader effort to expand connectivity across the city.
The launch comes as Atlanta welcomes visitors from around the world for FIFA World Cup 2026™, but city leaders say the investment was designed to benefit residents long after the tournament ends.
“Ever since Atlanta was selected as a FIFA Host City, we’ve been preparing for this moment with major infrastructure improvements, investments in public spaces and new projects that are helping move Atlanta forward,” Mayor Dickens said.
More Than a FIFA Project
Today, the network includes 222 access points throughout Downtown:
- 147 in the Centennial Olympic Park area
- 43 around City Hall
- 32 serving the Atlanta University Center
The City partnered with Comcast Business, Georgia Power and technology provider Juganu to deploy the network.
“Today, free public Wi-Fi is active here at Centennial Olympic Park, at City Hall and across the AUC. And this is just the first phase of a citywide effort,” Mayor Dickens said.
Building a City for the Future
What began as part of Atlanta’s preparations for FIFA World Cup 2026™ quickly evolved into something larger.
According to Chief Information Officer Jason Sankey, City leaders initially explored ways technology could support the tournament and improve the visitor experience. As planning continued, they recognized a broader challenge facing many communities: unequal access to reliable internet connectivity.
“Not everyone has the same connectivity as everyone else, and we tend to take that for granted,” Sankey said during Monday’s launch. “What started as a technology project to support the World Cup revealed broader challenges and opportunities to expand access.”
Mayor Dickens said investments like Atlanta Free help position Atlanta for the future.
“I often talk about Atlanta being a City Built for the Future. A City Built for the Future requires strong infrastructure,” he said. “And in a city working to become a Top 5 Tech Hub, digital infrastructure is just as important as physical infrastructure.”
The Mayor also noted that reliable internet access can help residents connect to education, jobs and city services.
“A young person working on a school project shouldn’t have to worry about finding an internet connection,” he said. “Someone trying to access city services should be able to do that easily.”
Hidden in Plain Sight
Many of the Wi-Fi hotspots are built directly into streetlight fixtures throughout Downtown.
“The technology powering this network is built into something most people walk past every day,” Mayor Dickens said. “These Wi-Fi hotspots are housed inside our streetlight fixtures.”
The network includes built-in security features designed to help protect users, including network segmentation, content filtering and threat protection measures.
Looking Ahead
While the initial rollout focuses on Downtown Atlanta, City officials say the vision is much larger.
Future phases will explore expanding public Wi-Fi access to fire stations, recreation centers, schools and other community spaces throughout Atlanta. Combined with plans to expand connectivity along the BeltLine and other key destinations, the long-term goal is a more connected and digitally inclusive city.
“The goal is to create a network that will eventually help connect folks from our airport to MARTA to the BeltLine and beyond,” Mayor Dickens said.
“This is just the start,” Sankey said. “We’re proud to deliver a service that strengthens connectivity, expands opportunity and supports a more digitally inclusive Atlanta.”
Users can connect by selecting “Atlanta Free” from the available Wi-Fi networks on their device and following the authentication prompts.
As Atlanta continues welcoming the world this summer, city leaders say Atlanta Free is another example of an investment designed to benefit residents long after FIFA.
“Today is another example of a promise made and a promise kept,” Mayor Dickens said.
