Celebrating 25 years of connecting a region through vision and fibre

From the start, the City of Kitchener played a central role. As one of the region’s largest municipalities, its schools, libraries and public services were among the earliest beneficiaries. Kitchener’s commitment to innovation helped shape WREPNet’s mission: fast, reliable and cost-effective connectivity across the region.

By 2001, WREPNet connected 227 sites. Over time, partners like Grand River Hospital (now, Waterloo Regional Health Network), Women’s Crisis Services, the University of Waterloo and Waterloo Regional Police joined, expanding the network to 383 sites and 45,000 connected devices.

In Kitchener, WREPNet powers public Wi-Fi in underserved areas and access computers in libraries. The Kitchener Public Library, a long-time beneficiary, hosted the 25th anniversary celebration—highlighting the collaboration WREPNet fosters.

Technically, WREPNet has scaled from 100 Mbps to 10 Gbps, always staying ahead of demand. Its cost-sharing model delivers high-speed connectivity at a third of commercial costs, enabling reinvestment in community services and digital inclusion.

The network has become a model for municipal innovation—supporting education, healthcare, emergency services and civic engagement.

Looking ahead, with continued support from elected officials and vendor partners like Rogers, Softchoice and HP Enterprise, WREPNet is ready to meet the region’s future digital needs.

“Let’s look forward with optimism as we expand and evolve WREPNet, building upon this strong foundation, as we move forward—together,” said Dan Murray, director of innovation, technology and services at the City of Kitchener.