HarrisX/LinkNYC poll finds nearly 27% of city residents still lack internet connections at home.
Half of New Yorkers use free public-Wi-Fi every month.
New York, NY — As the Adams Administration and LinkNYC work to continue expanding the City’s public Wi-Fi and high-speed broadband network, a new poll shows strong demand among New Yorkers for Link5G smart poles coming to their neighborhoods. Three-quarters of New Yorkers say they want the poles in their communities and are likely to use them. Half of New Yorkers say they already rely on free public Wi-Fi every month, and 27% of New Yorkers continue to lack in-home internet access.
“It’s clear that in many neighborhoods across the five boroughs, new Link5G smart poles can’t arrive soon enough,” said Nick Colvin, CEO of LinkNYC. “LinkNYC is working closely with the City to ensure every New Yorker can access the high speed broadband necessary to thrive in our increasingly online society. This new survey confirms nearly all New Yorkers rely on cellular networks to stay connected throughout their day, and most have experienced the frustration of poor data speeds and dropped calls. We must prioritize the upgrades of our city’s telecommunications infrastructure that are necessary to improve existing services and required for New York City to remain a leader on the global stage — both technologically and in ensuring equitable access for all of our neighbors.”
Key findings from the poll include:
- New Yorkers Support 5G Smart Poles: A supermajority of New Yorkers (76%) support the deployment of LinkNYC’s new Link5G smart poles in their communities to expand access to free high-speed public Wi-Fi, free nationwide calling, free device charging, connections to essential government services, and dependable 5G cellular service.
- Demand for 5G: There is a robust appetite for enhanced 5G cellular coverage, with 78% of survey respondents expressing a desire for stronger 5G connectivity in their homes.
- New Yorkers Want Reliability of a 5G Network: 46% of New Yorkers reported experiencing dropped calls a few times a month.
- Digital Divide Persists: Despite years of efforts to bridge the digital divide in New York City and nationwide, 27% of New Yorkers lack in-home broadband service. 45% use a cell phone to get online at home, indicating the importance of reliable mobile broadband service citywide.
- Inequitable Access: Of the 33% of New Yorkers who do not have unlimited data plans, half (49%) run out of mobile data at least one month per year. 27% of New Yorkers do not have access to subscription in-home internet.
- High Cost of Connectivity: 41% of New Yorkers spend $100 or more on their monthly cell phone bill, including 19% of those living at or below the poverty line.
- Public Wi-Fi is A Digital Safety Net: Free, high speed public Wi-Fi is a lifeline for many New Yorkers, with 49% using it monthly and 27% accessing it weekly. There is a clear demand for faster and more accessible public Wi-Fi, transcending all demographics and boroughs.
Conducted in late July 2023, the survey of 1,617 New York City residents includes a representative sample from all five boroughs. The poll’s margin of error is +/-2.4%.
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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 14 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 partnership led by Intersection 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 Link5G
Link5G is LinkNYC’s second generation offering that will improve digital connectivity in New York City. Conceived in 2021 (the Year of 5G), Link5G enables the equitable deployment of both 5G cellular coverage and Wi-Fi connectivity across the five boroughs. Using multi-tenant structures, transmitters for telecommunication service providers will be housed within Link5G smart poles, expanding 5G options and enhancing coverage in underserved areas. Link5G kiosks will bring better cellular service, increased opportunities to connect to free Wi-Fi, and improved options for in-home broadband internet access.