In 2008 there was a grand coming-out party for Wi-Fi in Beijing. Complete with fireworks.

Well, the celebration wasn’t just for Wi-Fi — but Wi-Fi played a very important role. The 2008 Summer Games in Beijing included a massive Wi-Fi network incorporating all the Olympic venues. For the first time ever at an Olympics, journalists, spectators, and athletes could all be connected during the games to high speed internet to check on results, monitor schedules, and communicate the experience to their friends around the world. At the time there were still obstacles preventing Wi-Fi from being universally adopted within China, but this massive and very public Wi-Fi showcase would prove to be the tipping point.

The network was provided by Azalea, and at the time it was one of the world’s largest Wi-Fi networks, covering nineteen square miles with over 600 access points.

Read more about the history of Wi-Fi in Beyond Everywhere.