London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Sunday, Jul 13, 2025

NYC residents complain about ‘ugly’ LinkNYC 5G poles, providing free WiFi to the people and deeper surveillance to the government

NYC residents complain about ‘ugly’ LinkNYC 5G poles, providing free WiFi to the people and deeper surveillance to the government

What Are Those Mysterious New Towers Looming Over New York’s Sidewalks?
As the city upgrades to 5G wireless, the streetscape is changing. Not everyone is impressed.
The idea is to provide free and equitable telecom and connectivity services to the people and deeper surveillance to the government.

But LinkNYC is getting dinged for aesthetics and the placement of 32-foot structures around the streets of New York City.

Some residents are calling them eyesores. Others are worried about safety due to their placement. “No one asked us about the design or where they should go. We have notes,” said a Brooklyn neighborhood group on Facebook.

As The New York Times wrote last weekend, the “towers” are part of LinkNYC efforts to install about 2,000 Link5G poles over the next several years in an effort to help eliminate the city’s “internet deserts.” A prior attempt to cover the city with Wi-Fi connectivity didn’t come to pass and led to an overwhelming number located in Manhattan, Brownstoner reported.

In July, Colorado-based Comptek Technologies took credit for its role in this latest 5G deployment, announcing it served as the designer and manufacturer of the Link5G poles. It did so in collaboration with ZenFi Networks, the CityBridge Consortium and Antenna Design.

At the time, ZenFi Networks co-founder and CEO Ray LaChance said they were "thrilled" with the result and excited to showcase Link5G across New York and across the country.

As of now, most of Link5Gs have not yet been activated and are in various stages of activation, optimization and testing processes, according to the New York City Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI). The OTI says 90% will be deployed in underserved areas – neighborhoods in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and above 96th Street in Manhattan.

“LinkNYC was designed to address New York’s pervasive digital divide, and our kiosks have already played a pivotal role in getting New Yorkers online,” a LinkNYC spokesperson told Fierce.


Related

To date, its program has provided free high-speed Wi-Fi to over 12 million users. “Our next-generation Link5G kiosks will double down on that work, bringing free Wi-Fi for those who need it, better cellular service for everyone, and investment in broadband infrastructure to communities across the five boroughs, with equity at the core of our rollout,” the spokesperson added.

It’s certainly not the first time residents of a U.S. city fought the installation of 30-foot poles.

But some New York City residents are complaining they weren’t consulted about the placement of the Link5G poles and are asking they be moved. Both the OTI and LinkNYC said they sought and continue to seek “extensive” community review.
Comments

Oh ya 3 year ago
The sheeple have no idea what is about to happen to them, just wait until they turn those on.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Renault Shares Drop as CEO Luca de Meo Announces Departure Amid Reports of Move to Kering
Senior Aides for King Charles and Prince Harry Hold Secret Peace Summit
Anti‑Semitism ‘Normalised’ in Middle‑Class Britain, Says Commission Co‑Chair
King Charles Meets David Beckham at Chelsea Flower Show
If the Department is Really About Justice: Ghislaine Maxwell Should Be Freed Now
NYC Candidate Zohran Mamdani’s ‘Antifada’ Remarks Spark National Debate on Political Language and Economic Policy
President Trump Visits Flood-Ravaged Texas, Praises Community Strength and First Responders
From Mystery to Meltdown, Crisis Within the Trump Administration: Epstein Files Ignite A Deepening Rift at the Highest Levels of Government Reveals Chaos, Leaks, and Growing MAGA Backlash
Trump Slams Putin Over War Death Toll, Teases Major Russia Announcement
Reparations argument crushed
Rainmaker CEO Says Cloud Seeding Paused Before Deadly Texas Floods
A 92-year-old woman, who felt she doesn't belong in a nursing home, escaped the death-camp by climbing a gate nearly 8 ft tall
French Journalist Acquitted in Controversial Case Involving Brigitte Macron
Elon Musk’s xAI Targets $200 Billion Valuation in New Fundraising Round
Kraft Heinz Considers Splitting Off Grocery Division Amid Strategic Review
Trump Proposes Supplying Arms to Ukraine Through NATO Allies
EU Proposes New Tax on Large Companies to Boost Budget
Trump Imposes 35% Tariffs on Canadian Imports Amid Trade Tensions
Junior Doctors in the UK Prepare for Five-Day Strike Over Pay Disputes
US Opens First Rare Earth Mine in Over 70 Years in Wyoming
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
Bitcoin Reaches New Milestone of $116,000
Biden’s Doctor Pleads the Fifth to Avoid Self-Incrimination on President’s Medical Fitness
Grok Chatbot Faces International Backlash for Antisemitic Content
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
×