LinkNYC 5G Design Proposal
Project: Link5G Design Proposal
Project Description:The City is committed to having the most up-to-date, equitably distributed, highest quality telecommunications infrastructure of any major city in the world, and the reboot of the LinkNYC program means underserved areas citywide will have better access to and options for 5G.
Managing Agencies: Department of Information Technology & Telecommunications (DOITT), CityBridge, and ZenFi Networks
Estimated Date of Completion Citywide: Summer 2026
Please click the link below to review the Link 5G Design Proposal
from the NYC Department of Information Technology & Telecommunications (DOITT):
DoITT_Link5G Design Proposal for Community Boards
What is Link NYC?
- The largest free public Wi-Fi network in the U.S.
- Since start of 2020, over 5 million calls!
- Free advertising for over 1,300 small and local businesses.
How Does LinkNYC Provide Free and Equitable Access?
- High-speed, free public Wi-Fi throughout NYC
- Free nationwide digital calling
- 911 / 311 access
- Access to all social services hotlines
- Video-relay service for deaf and hard of hearing community
- Access to government and social services websites
- Advertising space for the City, community information, and local businesses
- USB port for free charging of mobile devices
How do people use LinkNYC?
- Since inception, there have been 10 million+ users of LinkNYC’s Wi-Fi network!
- The Aunt Bertha social services directory for jobs, housing, food, and other programs is accessed over 10,000 times per month.
- The most searched for service during the pandemic has been people looking for food pantries.
- The most dialed number is the EBT hotline.
- And these usage statistics are with a Link footprint primarily in Manhattan!
LinkNYC: Franchise Rebooted Redesigned
In 2021, the City amended the franchise and introduced a mixed financial model: advertising and 5G cellular services revenue. The introduction of 5G meant that the franchise not only would provide its core services to the outer boroughs, it will bring next-gen cellular
connectivity to underserved areas citywide.
Introducing Link5G to the community
While the role of external stakeholders is advisory, DoITT is committed to a robust public
process and has been proactively working with Borough President’s offices to secure
feedback from community boards on all proposed link locations.
- All proposed locations are made available online via Open Data.
- Links with ads may only be in Commercial and Manufacturing districts.
- Links must be spaced at least 50 feet away from each other.
- The Landmarks Preservation Commission must review any site in an historic district and no new Franchise Structure shall be erected parallel to a landmark site.
- Limitations on siting are subject to waiver by the Commissioner in their sole discretion.
For more information, CLICK HERE TO VIEW COMPLETE LINK5G PRESENTATION
or contact:
Department of Information Technology & Telecommunications
2 Metro Tech Center, 5th floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Phone: 212-788-6600