Mayor Lurie and Supervisor Sauter Celebrate Completion of First Phase of Free Wi-Fi in Chinatown

SAN FRANCISCO – Mayor Daniel Lurie today celebrated the completion of the first phase of the Chinatown Wi-Fi project, bringing San Francisco’s free public Wi-Fi to the neighborhood as the city celebrates Lunar New Year. The first phase delivers free, high-speed internet access along Grant Avenue from Bush Street to Broadway, improving connectivity for residents, small businesses, and visitors in one of San Francisco’s densest neighborhoods. The expansion of Wi-Fi in Chinatown also brings free high-speed internet service directly to 234 families living at the Ping Yuen affordable housing buildings.

The completion of the first phase of the #SFWiFi in Chinatown project builds on the mayor’s work to celebrate and deliver for San Francisco’s Chinese community. Just a few weeks before the completion of the Chinatown Wi-Fi project, Mayor Lurie celebrated the beginning of Lunar New Year with the community. In September, he helped deliver $33.5 million in critical funding awarded by the California Department of Housing and Community Development to support a transformative affordable housing project at 772 Pacific Avenue, creating up to 175 new affordable homes for low-income and formerly homeless seniors. Mayor Lurie is also working to improve public safety in Chinatown. In his first year in office, crime was down 40% in the San Francisco Police Department’s central district, which serves the neighborhood.

“Access to opportunity online must be available to everyone in a city that leads the globe in technology and innovation,” said Mayor Lurie. “I am proud to celebrate the completion of the first phase of free public Wi-Fi in Chinatown and the addition of internet services for 234 families at Ping Yuen. Thank you to Supervisor Sauter for your partnership in connecting the Chinatown community and expanding reliable internet access to residents, small businesses, and visitors.”

Phase one of the Chinatown #SFWiFi provides free internet at the following locations:

• Grant Avenue from Bush Street to Broadway  
• St. Mary’s Square
• Portsmouth Square
• Willie Woo Woo Wong Playground
• Jackson between Grant Avenue and Stockton Street
• Pacific Avenue between Grant Avenue and Powell Street

In addition to the extension of Wi-Fi along Grant Avenue from Bush Street to Broadway, the city completed the expansion of the Department of Technology’s Fiber to Public Housing program at Ping Yuen—extending free high-speed internet service to the 234 families living at the Ping Yuen Central, West, and East buildings.

“This milestone reflects strong partnerships and a shared commitment to digital equity. Access to reliable internet is an essential infrastructure. What we’re building in Chinatown is about more than connectivity; it’s about opportunity for families, seniors, and small businesses to expand their virtual network,” said District 3 Supervisor Danny Sauter. “We’re helping ensure Chinatown residents are fully connected to education, jobs, healthcare, and one another.”  

"Delivering free, reliable, and high-speed internet service to public spaces and homes throughout Chinatown marks a major step toward ensuring that every San Franciscan has access to what they need in order to learn, work, and thrive in today’s world,” said City Administrator Carmen Chu. “Grant Avenue is a key destination for visitors to Chinatown, and I am thrilled to know that it will be supported by state-of-the-art technology that helps our local businesses and communities continue to prosper. I thank the Department of Technology team for their dedication to delivering for Chinatown."

“Our team is proud to deliver on our promise to complete free Wi-Fi on Grant Avenue in time for Lunar New Year,” said Mike Makstman, San Francisco Chief Information Officer and Executive Director of the Department of Technology. “This work is especially meaningful for the Cantonese, Mandarin, and Taishanese speakers on our team, all with family roots in the neighborhood, because they know firsthand how this connectivity benefits the community.”
The project was also made possible thanks to support from the Chinatown community, including JQ Properties LP, Chinatown Community Development Center, Structure Properties, Inc., and Edge on the Square.

“I want to applaud the city for investing in extending free SF Wi-Fi to our Chinatown community and high-quality fiber connection to our most critical affordable housing resource—the Ping Yuen projects,” said Malcolm Yeung, Chinatown Community Development Center CEO. “There has always been a digital divide for this community—both in terms of high quality internet fiber, income disparities that limit access for so many of our working families and seniors, and the knowledge around how to access internet. SF Wi-Fi will help to bridge this critical divide and bringing us one step closer to digital equity—a necessity to thrive in the 21st century.”

The expansion is being rolled out in two phases. Phase two is expected by the end of 2026 and will extend coverage on Stockton Street between Bush Street and Broadway and in additional alleyways, side streets, and other public spaces. Wi-Fi coverage is currently available at Portsmouth Square and will be upgraded to improve speed and coverage when the upcoming park renovations are complete.