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Picture this: you’re lounging on Cancun’s most iconic beach, snapping delightful pics for the gram.
But when you try to upload them, it feels like an eternity, leaving you frustrated and tempted to toss your phone into the beautiful Mexican Caribbean waters.
To make matters worse, your frustration hits a peak when you discover that your prepaid SIM card has run out of data. So much for those timely vacation photos.
This situation іs all too familiar for travelers іn Cancun, where public WiFi has been about as reliable as a chocolate teapot.
But the good news іs that change іs оn the horizon. Two WiFi antennas are set tо be installed іn two crucial Cancun Hotel Zone areas by the end оf August – Kilometer Zero and Playa Delfines.
The service will be provided by GigNet, a leading digital infrastructure provider that also introduced the first optical fiber network to the region.
This announcement will be music to the ears of travelers who, until now, have had to rely on their resort’s WiFi or go through the hassle of buying a prepaid SIM card at a convenience store just to stay connected.
Cancun’s Turbulent Internet Connectivity History
The Quintana Roo government’s past efforts to provide quality public WiFi were not precisely received with fanfare.
By 2016, Cancun was slated to have 220 operational WiFi hotspots throughout the city, but only a meager 9 out of those 220 were actually functional.
Moreover, these hotspots were predominantly concentrated in downtown Cancun, including ‘Parque de Las Palapas’ and ‘Kabah’ park, with many locals expressing dissatisfaction with the subpar connection.
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So, the news of a high-quality, public internet connection comes as a breath of fresh air.
Luis de Potestad Clemens, Vice President of Institutional Relations and Special Projects at Gig Net, remarked:
“Quintana Roo had the same internet speed as Uganda or Kazakhstan. The intention is to offer quality internet that matches the standards tourists deserve. We have a first-class tourist destination.”
What This Increased Connectivity Means For Tourists
In today’s increasingly interconnected world, the inability to upload pictures to your social media as a traveler is the least of your worries.
Not only is it crucial to stay in touch with friends and family back home, but with the growing reliance on mobile banking and identity verification through phone numbers, being unable to access your bank account can indeed feel like a traveler’s worst nightmare.
So, being able to rely on the high-speed connection at Cancun’s most popular beach at all times will certainly guarantee a much more relaxed and enjoyable experience.
And with Cancun’s rising popularity among digital nomads, this increased connectivity will be a much welcome addition. After all, the ability to work right from the beach is one of the most sought-after perks of the digital nomad lifestyle.
At Playa Delfines, the coverage will extend across the entire area, encompassing the beachfront, palapas, and the police booth.
On the other hand, the Kilometer Zero access point (located at the entrance to the Hotel Zone) will provide coverage from the area near the entrance fountain to the park within the same vicinity.
The Future Of High-Speed Internet Coverage In Cancun
While this limited coverage might not sound like a huge game changer, it’s part of a broader initiative by GigNet aimed at boosting Cancun’s digital transformation.
This enterprise is geared toward establishing the necessary infrastructure to support the region’s rapid residential growth and stimulate economic development.
Earlier this year, GigNet joined forces with the Mexican Association of Real Estate Professionals in Cancun, introducing the “Silicon Maya” initiative.
As you can probably imagine, this initiative envisions a new “Silicon Valley” emerging іn the Yucatán Peninsula, attracting investors, innovators, and tech entrepreneurs, who would significantly benefit from GigNet’s high-speed broadband.
And when you consider Cancun’s growing popularity as a destination, its potential future as a tech and real estate hub akin to Silicon Valley might not be too far-fetched.
Currently, GigNet plans to install two public WiFi access points in Tulum, one at the Municipal Palace and another in the hotel zone.
Playa del Carmen’s iconic ‘Quinta Avenida’ will also welcome a new WiFi access point in the coming months.
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