Sam Oliver
Visitors and residents of New York City may soon have a vastly improved internet experience thanks to the new LinkNYC program, an initiative to replace the city's aging pay phones with modern "Link structures" that will broadcast access to free, gigabit Wi-Fi.
In addition to free Wi-Fi, the pylons will allow users to place free domestic phone calls — both to regular numbers as well as emergency services like 911. A touchscreen Android tablet integrated into the pylon will provide access to city services and directions.
The pylons will also serve as a quick battery top-up location, while adding built-in lighting. They will take up less space than pay phones, adding some much-needed room to New York's crowded sidewalks.
LinkNYC plans to pay for the rollout through advertisements that will run on digital screens astride each pylon, making it free to taxpayers. The program is expected to bring in some $500 million in revenue for the city over the first dozen years of operation.
LinkNYC plans to begin construction in 2015, with the first pylons coming online by the end of next year. Eventually, 10,000 structures are planned across all five boroughs.
There is no word on which Wi-Fi technology the consortium will turn to, nor any indication of which company will provide the connection backbone.
Stephen Silver
Christine McKee
Charles Martin
Amber Neely
40 Comments
Dr. Who goes digital? :)
Oh wait, that's not a phone booth is it?
There is no word on which Wi-Fi technology the consortium will turn to, nor any indication of which company will provide the connection backbone.
It's teeny tiny little niggling details like these that makes me nervous this will never actually happen.
That being said I really hope this happens, works, and is then rolled out in cities all over the place.
Cool idea!
First of all, whatever it is, it’s not ‘free.’ Somebody will pay for it, probably the taxpayers of NYC, even those taxpayers who don’t use it. Second, ‘free’ also implies insecure like the ‘free’ WiFi at Starbucks and McDonalds. Would you login to your bank or credit card account using ‘free’ public WiFi? Well, the general public surely will. Score one for the hackers and WiFi sniffers.
[quote name="TechLover" url="/t/183471/nyc-plans-to-replace-phone-booths-with-pylons-providing-free-gigabit-wi-fi#post_2640892"]It's teeny tiny little niggling details like these that makes me nervous this will never actually happen. That being said I really hope this happens, works, and is then rolled out in cities all over the place. [/quote] 802.11a probably...