WestNet N.A. Timeline

28 years of continuous operation. WestNet expands city Wi-Fi to additional South and Northeast Calgary communities. 30+ communities now served. On April 4, 2026 WestNet marks its 28th year — from a basement startup in 1998 to Calgary's longest-running independent wireless internet provider.

100 Mbps city Wi-Fi tier launched — WestNet's fastest plan. speedtest.westnet.ca relaunched (Ookla-certified node in place since 2006). Updated coverage map released covering 30+ Calgary communities. View map

Verizon global network partnership formalized — enabling US-based IP termination and global backhaul. COVID-19 (2020): WestNet maintains full service as an essential provider. Full expansion resumes 2022.

US-terminated IP gateway introduced — Calgary subscribers receive a US-based IP address without a VPN. WestNet formally registered as a CRTC telecommunications carrier (2017). Event Wi-Fi service launched for Calgary festivals and corporate events (2018).

Fibre backhaul upgrade across ~12 tower locations — WestNet's largest single infrastructure investment since 2006. Lays the technical foundation for 100 Mbps service.

Nine new Calgary communities added to coverage: Forest Lawn, Marlborough, Renfrew, Tuxedo Park, Highland Park, Ramsay, Bowness, Killarney/Glengarry, Sunalta.

Calgary flood — WestNet stays online. The worst natural disaster in Calgary's history floods underground cable and fibre infrastructure. WestNet's rooftop wireless antennas, elevated above the flood line, remain operational throughout. Post-flood: largest single-year corporate subscriber influx in company history. 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) deployed city-wide. Read press coverage

802.11n (Wi-Fi 4) deployed city-wide. Network capacity doubled at six primary tower locations. MDU (multi-dwelling unit) service tier launched for Calgary condo buildings. Bloomberg covers WestNet growth — "Calgary Company WestNet City Wi-Fi Continues to Grow."

17,500 subscribers (Aug 2010) growing to 30,000+ by end of 2011 — adding ~500/week. Business in Calgary magazine 8-page feature. WestNet joins CCTS (Dec 2010). London Free Press covers WestNet (Jun 2011). Corporate rooftop building-link program expands across dozens of downtown towers. Tower installed near Calgary Stampede Park.

10,000+ users on the WestNet Wi-Fi network. All EV-DO base stations upgraded to Revision A (3.1 Mbps / 1.8 Mbps). Downtown Calgary Wi-Fi pilot launched with Canada's most powerful wide-area Wi-Fi transmitters.

WestNet submits application for Industry Canada AWS Spectrum Auction. Application rejected (sought 800 MHz; auction was 2.8 GHz); appeal filed. CEO publicly advocates for fair spectrum access for smaller regional providers. Pledges to never charge for incoming text messages — national media coverage; Federal Industry Minister Jim Prentice contacts WestNet.

CDMA network opened to any compatible device — open network policy. Application submitted for AMPS analog network licensing through Industry Canada.

City-wide Wi-Fi launches in Calgary — downtown, Inglewood, Albert Park, Radisson Heights, Forest Lawn, Foothills Industrial — at speeds up to 10 Mbps. CDMA 1X-EV-DO deployed via Nortel Networks base station (Canada's first by an independent carrier). First non-major carrier to offer ITVE wireless roaming. Wi-Fi soft-handoff protocol patented. Ookla speed test node added to speedtest.westnet.ca. Pricing: $20.99/mo or $199.99/yr.

Motorola and DDL-Networks selected as Wi-Fi vendors. DDL-Networks agrees to produce 1,500 WestNet-branded Wi-Fi adapters and invest when coverage reaches 300,000 population.

Calgary's first commercial Wi-Fi network announced — Canada's first municipal-scale wireless internet deployment. speedtest.westnet.ca launched — one of Canada's earliest ISP-hosted speed test tools. Mobile HotSpot Vehicle (MHSV) concept developed for portable event and emergency wireless connectivity.

Albert Park / Radisson Heights Community Wi-Fi launched — Calgary's first community wireless network. Entirely self-funded by Abdul Traya, backed by MCI WorldCom backbone. Read history
WestNet WireCELL solution announced. WestNet formally enters Canada's competitive wireless market.

AppleiMac.com dispute settled (April 27, 1999). Apple received the domain; settlement described as "almost enough to retire on." International coverage: CNN, MSNBC, CBC News, CTV News, The New York Times, CNET (front page), prime-time and late-night talk shows. Time Magazine interview, June 1999. Settlement proceeds fund early WestNet wireless development.

July: Abdul Traya registers AppleiMac.com — two months before Apple launches the iMac G3. High-profile legal dispute begins, drawing international media.
Age 18: Traya founds WestNet Wireless Communications Ltd. after leaving Western Canada High School (WCHS).
December: Traya Net Inc. becomes parent holding company of WestNet Communications Canada. westnet.ca renewed under Traya Net ownership.

WestNet / Traya Net founded. Abdul Traya, age 14, conceives the idea for an affordable wireless ISP. Traya Net launches as one of Calgary's first web hosting providers, operating on the MCI WorldCom backbone as a Tier 1 provider. The vision: affordable, independent wireless internet for every Calgarian.