Public Wi-Fi Networks

We financed $232.5 million to assist the build-out of high-speed public Wi-Fi networks in all underground subway stations and along the streets of New York City.

Access to affordable, high-speed broadband may be as important to New York City in the 21st century as the subway or electricity were in the 20th century. As daily life in the city increasingly requires broadband connectivity, every New Yorker must be able to access and use the internet to its full potential. Unfortunately, the city faces a large digital divide. In the Bronx, for example, more than a third of households lack broadband, and another large percentage rely only on cellular data. The build-out of free public Wi-Fi networks has therefore become increasingly important as the demand for digital connectivity outside the home rises in New York City.  Since 2014, we’ve helped fund the construction of some of these public networks both below and above ground.

We provided $75 million of financing to fund the construction of a public Wi-Fi network in all 275 underground subway stations in New York City. The build-out of the network allowed for full cell phone and Wi-Fi connectivity in all underground stations, enabling voice and data functions such as phone calls, text messages, emails, music, and video streaming. Approximately 10.5 million people access the subway system's Wi-Fi network each month.

We also provided a $157.5 million loan to help fund the construction of New York City’s street-level, high-speed public Wi-Fi network called LinkNYC. This first-of-its-kind communications system replaced the thousands of public pay phones across the city. LinkNYC is the world’s largest and fastest free public Wi-Fi network.  Each Link kiosk provides free Wi-Fi, phone calls, device charging, access to social services, maps, directions, and displays content such as real-time weather and transit info. LinkNYC has had over 18 million Wi-Fi users and more than 3.5 billion Wi-Fi sessions since its launch. The city-wide network has also connected more than 30 million free phone calls.