Adams, CTO Fraser, and LinkNYC unveil first Link5G kiosk in NYC

Mayor Eric Adams was joined by New York City Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Matthew Fraser and LinkNYC CEO Nick Colvin on Sunday to unveil the first active Link5G kiosk, located in the Morris Heights neighborhood of the Bronx. The new phase of LinkNYC — which provides free Wi-Fi, nationwide phone calls, and other digital services to New Yorkers — will offer 5G connectivity, with priority given to underserved areas throughout the five boroughs.

“Accessible broadband and phone service isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity. These new LinkNYC 5G kiosks are going to finally help to close the digital divide and expand and improve mobile technology coverage all over this city,” said Adams. “When it comes to digital services, we know that too many New Yorkers have been left behind. Our administration is committed to changing that and ensuring that all of our city’s residents have access to tech services, no matter where they live. Ninety percent of these new kiosks will be located in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and above 96th Street in Manhattan — all areas that are affected by the digital divide. We thank LinkNYC for its partnership and for helping push forward our broader digital equity agenda.”

In order to provide resources to historically underserved communities, priority for new builds will be given to specified equity community districts that were chosen based on lack of other broadband options, lower median annual incomes, lack of existing LinkNYC infrastructure, and high levels of pedestrian and street traffic. Once fully deployed, there will be approximately 2,000 new Link5G kiosks throughout the five boroughs, which will bring the total LinkNYC network to at least 4,000 locations citywide.

The kiosks will offer expanded free services to New Yorkers with broader coverage, and newly available 5G spectrum radios will greatly increase coverage and capacity for all New Yorkers, especially in historically underserved areas.