In order to compete in a highly connected world The City of Waterloo realized it had to overcome limited broadband penetration.  The City and its partners responded by introducing the WREPNET (Waterloo Regional Education and Public Network) network in 1999/2000 to increase connectivity, build broadband awareness starting with a youth audience and to encourage a market groundswell of dedication to accessibility.

Today, as befits a Top 7-status community, Waterloo is equipped with wide ranging high speed connectivity.  The City's original telecommunications provider, Bell Canada, supports a full range of services including ADSL broadband Internet services, while other organizations such as Allstream, TELUS, Execulink, Sentex, Terago and Atria (Learn more about Atria)

provide broadband services for business or residential subscribers. 

Atria, which connects the WREPNET partners throughout the region, is a state-of-the-art information network, with over 14,000 computers connected to a high-capacity network 180,000 times faster than a telephone-based computer network.  Today the network spans 700 kilometres and supports both public and private institutions.

Three cellular carriers, Rogers, Bell, and TELUS offer wireless data services on their cellular networks, and provide email and Internet services using Waterloo-based Research in Motion's Blackberry handheld device.