Innovation

The City of Sanford, Lee County Government, and Downtown Sanford, Inc. partnered to provide free Wi-Fi access to a section of the downtown area.

Called “Open Sanford,” the Wi-Fi network is powered by Open Broadband, a hybrid fiber and fixed wireless ISP solution. The project allows for Wi-Fi through line-of-sight infrastructure, which can be expanded without the need for underground installation.

The network began operation in 2018 and is nearly 100 percent complete. Moving forward, the partnership may extend free Wi-Fi to other areas of downtown and additional areas in Sanford/Lee County where feasible.

“This connectivity and ease of access will enable even more and better experiences in Sanford,” says Mayor Chet Mann. “We want people to visit, stay, and enjoy themselves while shopping, dining, and taking in our downtown.”