Wi-Fi will carry the torch for public communications connectivity as the Summer Olympics head west in 2028.

Host city Los Angeles has been preparing for the Games of the XXXIV Olympiad, expanding its Wi-Fi infrastructure as part of a multiyear project called the Crenshaw Community Connectivity Pilot. Los Angeles will also be home to other high-profile public events prior to LA28, including FIFA World Cup 26 and Super Bowl LXI 2027, with the project supporting visitors to the area with internet access at the events.

The Crenshaw Pilot, in partnership with Cisco, public-private partnerships and nonprofit support, began several years ago to address digital equity gaps in broadband accessibility for residents and businesses in south Los Angeles.

“Wi‑Fi will be essential to the success of LA28,” said Kevin Robinson, president and CEO of Wi‑Fi Alliance in an August 2025 press statement. “Robust, reliable Wi‑Fi is core component of connectivity infrastructure, from high-density venues and credentialing zones to athlete readiness centers and global media hubs.”

LA28 is the organization responsible for managing and executing the 2028 games scheduled for July 14–30. The event includes the Paralympic Games, close to 400 medal events and more than 10,000 athletes from around the globe competing in 36 sports categories.

Bringing broadband to the masses

Designed to address gaps in Wi-Fi access for underserved residents and businesses, the initiative includes the installation of underground fiber optics to create the network infrastructure serving the Crenshaw, Hyde Park, Park Mesa and Leimert Park neighborhoods.

According to Cisco, the Los Angeles Bureau of Street Lighting installed 1.5 miles of underground fiber optic cable from Leimert Park Plaza to the Hyde Park Metro Station. Building out the infrastructure using existing city-owned street lighting for power, BSL worked with Cisco to deploy cloud-managed outdoor access points and ultra-reliable wireless backhaul, enabling Wi-Fi at public spaces along the corridor. The Wi-Fi infrastructure, Cisco stated, will also support future smart cities use cases, such as data-driven traffic management, increased pedestrian and public safety, improved emergency response and environmental sensing technology. Los Angeles owns and operates the fiber network.

Wi-Fi build out continues

While Wi-Fi will be critical for communications during the high-profile Olympics, providing access to the internet remains a key component to public safety, security and smart city projects, with other locations carrying out similar connectivity projects. According to StartUs Insights, the global smart city market is projected to increase from $699.7 billion in 2025 to $1.45 trillion by 2030 and is one of the fastest growing urban development segments.

Many U.S. cities are deploying free Wi-Fi for increased public accessibility, including New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Fort Worth, Texas, and others, focusing on underserved areas and providing public internet in parks, libraries, community centers, transportation hubs and housing authorities.

Smart cities are counting on Wi-Fi to deliver a secure, integrated digital infrastructure that can be scaled up quickly and support what will eventually be millions of internet of things- connected devices. In addition to public connectivity, smart cities are focused on public safety, security, sustainability and energy optimization.

Header photo: Roberto Nickson / Unsplash