The City of New York and LinkNYC Usher in the Next Generation of 5G Connectivity
New York, NY – May 23, 2022 – Today, The City of New York, and CityBridge, the consortium behind LinkNYC, removed the final New York City public pay telephone on 745 7th Avenue in an event open to the public. The payphone will find its next home at the Museum of the City of New York where the newly installed exhibit Analog City looks back at life in the city before computers, just as New York City expands digital connectivity for all.
Photos and video of the removal are available here.
In 2014, the De Blasio Administration issued a competitive request for proposals process to remagine and replace the aging network of public pay telephones across New York City to maximize the public benefit. CityBridge was selected to develop and operate the visionary LinkNYC, a first-of-its-kind communications network, to bring the world’s fastest public Wi-Fi to millions of New Yorkers, small businesses, and visitors. In 2015, the removal process of street payphones began, transforming New York City’s physical streetscape and improving digital connectivity for all.
Today, LinkNYC has grown to be the largest and fastest free public Wi-Fi network with thousands of Links deployed citywide. LinkNYC has grown to become an essential resource, having facilitated over 3 billion Wi-Fi sessions with more than 10 million subscribers. At the same time, LinkNYC has become an essential platform for social services, civic engagement, public health, education, and content, including countless PSAs, public art, and important local information.
This last removal will mark the end of the payphone era, with the exception of private payphones on public property and four permanent full-length Superman booths, and this summer, LinkNYC will expand the network with the rollout of Link5G. By adding 5G functionality to Links, and expanding the fiber footprint further throughout the City, the City’s Office of Technology and Innovation has planned a major expansion that will bring more service to more neighborhoods–prioritizing equity areas with particular need, including the outer boroughs, Manhattan above 96th street, and communities that lack internet access.
“As a native New Yorker, saying goodbye to the last street payphone is bittersweet because of the prominent place they’ve held in the city’s physical landscape for decades,” said Chief Technology Officer Matthew Fraser. “Just like we transitioned from the horse and buggy to the automobile and from the automobile to the airplane, the digital evolution has progressed from payphones to high-speed wi-fi kiosks to meet the demands of our rapidly changing daily communications needs. The coming arrival of Link5G represents an exciting new development in this space and reaffirms the city’s commitment to make the latest tech available to all New Yorkers, as we work toward bridging the digital divide. I look forward to continuing to work closely with CityBridge as we expand 5G access and connectivity across all five boroughs in the near future,” said Matthew Fraser, Commissioner of the Office of Technology and Innovation.
“At LinkNYC, we have always believed that digital connectivity is a human right, necessary to fully participate and access opportunities in society. We are proud that Links have provided added value to the City by providing free outdoor high-speed Wi-Fi, free phone calls, charging devices, community updates, 5G wireless capability and seamless and accessible one-touch connection to social services. Over the last years, numerous laborers and local champions have supported this project as we reach this last payphone milestone – we can’t thank them enough for being critical players in ushering the next generation of connectivity and modern infrastructure in New York,” said Nick Colvin, CEO of LinkNYC.
“Today marks the end of an era in how New Yorkers connect with one another in the public sphere. Our payphone infrastructure is iconic, and yielded both opportunities and challenges over the course of their useful lifetimes. Payphones in the outer boroughs were sometimes broken and used for less-than-ideal purposes. It is paramount that we memorialize our payphones by learning from and improving on the ways in which they contributed to issues of equity,” said Chair of the Technology Committee, Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez. “I’m looking forward to working with CityBridge to ensure the equitable and safe operations of LinkNYC kiosks throughout New York City.”
“In less than a decade we’ve gone from payphones on street corners to free Wi-Fi kiosks all over our city. We’re on the right track towards making NYC technologically equitable and we must continue this work to connect more New Yorkers to affordable high speed internet in their homes and schools,” said Council Member Julie Won. “These kiosks must be recognized as vital lifelines for those who otherwise have no access to emergency services or the internet. We must ensure that they are well maintained and functional to keep that important connection open for all in our city.”
“Times Square is a symbol of saying goodbye to the old, and welcoming and embracing the new,” said Tom Harris, President of the Times Square Alliance. “As we say goodbye to the last payphone we look forward to the new technology solutions that will be rolled out in the city allowing for a better and more accessible pedestrian experience.”
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About LinkNYC
LinkNYC is the world’s largest and fastest free public Wi-Fi network. Each Link kiosk provides free superfast Wi-Fi, phone calls, device charging, access to social services, and displays content such as real-time weather, transit info, public art and local information. The city-wide network has over 10 million Wi-Fi users and has connected more than 25 million free phone calls. All of LinkNYC’s services are completely free to users and taxpayers, provided by CityBridge, a partnership between Intersection and ZenFi Networks. The next phase of LinkNYC will deploy thousands of new kiosks, called Link5G, enabled with 5G wireless technology across the city. For more information about LinkNYC or to find a Link near you, visit www.link.nyc.