About a year ago we told you about New York City getting 10,000 public wi-fi hotspots, to be installed in existing payphone spots across the City.
An ambitious plan to replace the aging network of public pay-phones across the City with high-speed, free and public Wi-Fi hotspots was just unveiled. The City's new program is called LinkNYC and plans to offer free gigabit internet with no cost to taxpayers and no usage fees, rather it will be funded through advertising revenues. Construction of the LinkNYC network will begin in 2015 and the first structures will become operational by year-end.
Turns out they were true to that estimate, with the very first hotspot installed yesterday outside of a Starbucks on 15th and 3rd in Gramercy.
This particular installation was spotted outside a small Starbucks at 15th St and 3rd Avenue, near Manhattan’s Union Square. Hundreds of other hubs will be installed throughout the city in the days to come. The signal range will be roughly 150 feet, visible LinkNYC anticipates another weeks or two of testing before New Yorkers will be able to use the hubs to get online.
Check out the full report for more info and installation pics.
via The Verge
Matt Coneybeare
Editor in Chief
Matt enjoys exploring the City's with his partner and son. He is an avid marathon runner, and spends most of his time eating, running, and working on cool stuff.
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