If you were in Gramercy/East Village yesterday, you might have noticed some new additions: two new, free Wi-Fi kiosks standing tall on East 15th street and East 17th street on Third Avenue. These are the first of 7,500 LinkNYC Free Wi-Fi kiosks that will be installed throughout New York City as part of Mayor de Blasio’s plan to replace pay phones.
The two kiosks (called “links”) don’t work yet, but it’s expected that they’ll start providing Wi-Fi within the next two weeks, while eight other Third Avenue links are implemented. You can read our earlier coverage regarding these kiosks here.
The second new Wi-Fi kiosk, on East 17th street and Third Avenue
Eventually, the links will not only offer free gigabit-speed Wi-Fi connection and phone service to pedestrians within a 150-foot range, but also charging stations, touch screens with maps and info about city services and even a speakerphone for domestic calls. The rollout of these kiosks, which are intended to replace New York City’s 6,000 defunct pay phones, will cost $200 million.
The Wi-Fi kiosk’s touch screen, soon to provide pedestrians with various features
The kiosks will also provide pedestrians with chargers and other services
The 9.5-foot tall links are sleek and slender, and easily stand out on crowded streets. A technology corporation called CityBridge worked with city officials after it won a 12-year contract in the design contest called “Reinvent Payphones.”
The kiosks have a tall, slender design
The city expects that this coming June will see 500 more kiosks within all five boroughs of New York City and that by 2024, there will be 7,500. Now that the first links have be installed, keep checking around to see where more spring up!
