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New York transforms more payphone kiosks into world's fastest free Wi-Fi hotspots

Xinhua, March 22, 2016 Adjust font size:

New York City has mounted a connectivity campaign that is designed to bring about more booths with ultra-fast Wi-Fi hotspots and other connectivity features across the metropolis, said LinkNYC General Manager Jen Hensley Monday.

The LinkNYC program is a 12-year plan to gradually repurpose the city's old payphone stands for three-meter-tall, futuristic kiosks that will provide a spectrum of service features including free Wi-Fi hotspots, free domestic phone calls and internet browsing services to local residents and about 60 million visitors annually.

According to Hensley, the company has built some 140 kiosks along the Big Apple's 3rd and 8th Avenues in the testing period starting January, of which, 40 are activated and ready to serve.

Hensley said workers are adding 40 to 60 new units every week through using the infrastructure of replaced payphone stands.

The service brings free 1000Mbps gigabit Wi-Fi connection to up to 256 devices per unit, which is 50 times faster than the average speed of public wireless service in New York City. It is said to be the fastest public Wi-Fi service in the world.

Every LinkNYC kiosks provides Wi-Fi coverage within a radius of approximately 46 meters, said Hensley. Users are only required an email address to get online.

Each of the kiosks is also equipped with an Android tablet and a keypad, which allows users to make domestic phone calls, browse the internet and check city maps free of charge. Users can also charge their devices through provided USB ports, call 911 emergency services with a designated button, and even pay for parking tickets.

Two side advertising panels are installed on every LinkNYC units, which is expected to bring in 500 million U.S. dollars in revenue during the contracted period of 12 years that will be used to finance the free services, according to Hensley.

"These kiosks are beautiful city furniture," said Hensley. "It is a transformational opportunity for people to get the connectivity they want and become accustomed to in their everyday mobile lives."

Currently, only English language is available in the kiosks' tablet interface. The company is planning to add more interface languages in the future to better meet the needs of foreign tourists in the city.

About 500 kiosks will be activated for use by July 2016, and a total of 10,000 units are expected to be installed throughout the 12-year program. Endit