Yes, it's a very long-term project, most certainly because it's the largest urban Wi-Fi project designed to date. The LinkNYC plan brings the perfect solution to an issue faced by the de Blasio Administration, back in 2014: how do we provide free Wi-Fi to New Yorkers / how do we get rid of unused pay phones. There you go: replace the old phone booths with upgraded free Wi-Fi hotspots.
CityBridge, self-described as "a consortium of experts in technology, media, user experience and connectivity that includes Intersection, Qualcomm and CIVIQ Smartscapes", answered to the competitive RFP issued by the City with a proposal called LinkNYC. Their plan, which includes the installation of at least 7,500 gigabit-speed Link kiosks in NYC within the next twelve years, was approved.
After the first two Links unveiled last week in Manhattan, CityBridges plans to install 510 Links across all five boroughs by July 2016, with a total of 4,550 kiosks deployed within the four next years. According to CityBridge, each Link delivers a connectivity that is 100 times faster than the average public Wi-Fi hotspot and can support hundreds of users at the same time, 24/7.
Each Link will feature two huge video screens to play ads (the project's main funding source), an Android tablet, two USB chargers and a red 911 button for emergency calls. The public Wi-Fi network is of course encrypted and none of your private informations will be used or sent in any way. LinkNYC units are build to last and withstand extreme temperatures, weather conditions and hopefully mindless destruction.
Photos: LinkNYC on Instagram
News in the same category
This may be a first. If other companies already played the entertainment card before, General Electric is fully associated with the National Geographic Channel to produce a whole new TV series, based on the conglomerate's science and technology expertise.
This is a world premiere: Tommy Hilfiger just launched Twitter Halo during his Spring 2016 fashion show in New York. Talk about head spinning tweets.
Created last year by 10 of the biggest companies in the US, The Closed Loop Fund has announced its first three projects to increase recycling processes in the country.
This year's New York Toy Fair gave Mattel the opportunity to unveil a completely redesigned version of their famous ThingMaker. Definitely looking forward to Christmas.