Everything To Know About NYC's Free Wi-Fi Pylons

Late last year, NYC announced its plans to install giant internet pylons around the city, providing insanely fast Wi-Fi, charging stations, and telephones for free international calls. Now in February, we know how they'll look, when they'll be built, and what exactly they can offer. Below is a quick guide so you can have a better sense of this amazing future achievement just waiting to happen.

A great addition to the city landscape, kiosks or "Links" will be constructed to serve as hotspots for everyday citizens, tourists, and even the homeless. What's remarkable is that the construction company is actually hoping to generate money from this free service project, initially through ads.

This is what they'll probably look like:

CityBridge, a partnership between four firms, is behind the manufacturing and distribution of Links. They're telling us they could start appearing around different areas as early as quarter 4 of 2015, however full implementation is not expected until 2027. After the design and look is approved by the New York Public Design commission, CityBridge can begin installation. Here's their to-do list for the next 1.5 years:

Four years later:

Apparently, the four corporations have spent $200 million in order to build a fiber optic network, necessary for gigabit speed, to all five boroughs of NYC.

At this point you might be wondering: will LinkNYC try and track my position around the city? It's hard to tell right now, but if so, the upside is that the blind could know where they are, and be directed t to various locations without help from strangers. Besides, we can't really complain about a free service.

I see this bold plan as a positive step forward. It really seems like an interconnected atmosphere is emerging; individuals are brought closer than they ever have to the places in which they live. By midcentury, what can we expect to see in a casual walk down a few blocks? Wi-Fi kiosks lining the whole street, tens of drones monitoring for safety, green architecture, self-cleaning sidewalks, super-efficient lampposts? It's mind-boggling stuff, and this could just be the start.

A question I still have is how far the Links will be spaced apart along city streets, because only 256 people can be connected to each hub at a time, and when it's crowded, some residents might be left out. Another is, will the ads featured on our smart devices during connection be excessive? A major source of CB's revenue will be advertisements, which means they will conceive of every possible way to focus our gaze on colorful posters and flashing money traps. Also, can other U.S. cities expect similar projects to enter their districts and suburbs? Does the likelihood of widespread adoption hinge on LinkNYC's success? We can only make guesses for the time being, but you can definitely expect to see them popping up in condensed areas this year.

It's finally, finally happening.