55 percent of city residents use free public Wi-Fi every month and 30 percent rely on it weekly
76 percent of New Yorkers approve of the City’s use of technology to deliver public services and 75 percent feel tech companies have had a positive impact on their lives
NEW YORK, NY – More New Yorkers than ever are taking advantage of free public Wi-Fi as the demand for digital connectivity outside the home rises in New York City, according to a new poll from LinkNYC and Tech:NYC, conducted by leading tech and telecom research firm, HarrisX. Today, 55 percent of New Yorkers say they use free public Wi-Fi at least once a month, up six percentage points from 2023.
New Yorkers’ support of new infrastructure and programs that deliver reliable broadband access has also increased. Three out of four New Yorkers (77 percent) say they support Link5G smart poles coming to their communities, with support highest in areas where residents use free public Wi-Fi most often: the North Bronx, Manhattan, and Central Brooklyn. Support for Link5G also grew significantly in several neighborhoods since 2023, including in Upper Manhattan (rising 10 percentage points) and Northeast Queens (rising 12 percentage points).
35 percent of New Yorkers — more than one-third — lack unlimited cellular data plans, with half of those residents (51 percent) running out of data during at least one month per year.
“It’s clear that New Yorkers love the LinkNYC program as much as they need the LinkNYC program,” said LinkNYC CEO Nick Colvin. “We are seeing strong support for LinkNYC’s services and enhanced digital infrastructure across every community and demographic in our city.”
City residents view technology as essential to the city’s future, its economy, and its public resources, with 78 percent saying tech companies have positively impacted the city and 71 percent expressing interest in expanded, City-provided tech and A.I. training programs to support the local workforce.
“This survey’s findings illustrate how the growth of digital technology creates jobs, drives economic activity, and provides services for New Yorkers in every borough,” said Tech:NYC President and CEO Julie Samuels. “We all understand the increasing role technology plays in our society, and that’s why we must focus on modernizing our city’s digital services.”
“New Yorkers are sending a clear message: reliable internet access is not a luxury — it’s a necessity,” said HarrisX Global CEO Dritan Nesho. “With more than half of city residents relying on free public Wi-Fi, this data underscores how public support for the Link5G program is growing alongside the need for more and newer connectivity solutions.”
Click HERE to view the poll results.
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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 more than 18 million Wi-Fi users and has connected more than 30 million free phone calls. All of LinkNYC’s services are completely free to users and taxpayers, provided by CityBridge, a joint venture led by Intersection Media and Boldyn Networks. The second generation offering 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.
About Tech:NYC
Tech:NYC is an engaged network of tech leaders working to foster a dynamic, diverse, and creative New York. The organization works with policymakers and business leaders to support a successful technology ecosystem, attract and retain top talent, and celebrate New York and the companies that call it home. Tech:NYC represents more than 550 New York tech companies and investors.
About HarrisX
HarrisX, a Stagwell company, is a leading global market research and data analytics firm specializing in the technology and telecommunications sectors. The company conducts multi-method consumer and voter research across the U.S. and in over 40 countries. With offices in Washington, D.C., New York City, London, and Toronto, HarrisX advises Fortune 100 companies, public policy institutions, global leaders, NGOs, and philanthropic organizations. For more information on HarrisX’s data-driven insights, visit harrisx.com.