BT to offer free Wi-Fi, mobile charging, calls and maps in London
The British broadband giant BT has teamed up with WiFi specialist LinkNYC and outdoor advertising agency Primesight to offer ultramodern kiosks in London. The new WiFi spots, dotted in various kiosks around the UK capital, will offer Londoners ‘the fastest’ public broadband speeds available, once they start the roll out in 2017.
The kiosks, called ‘Links’, will be installed across London’s major high streets and be able to offer hundreds of users speeds of up to 1Gbps from just one kiosk. If all goes to plan, more than 750 kiosks will be installed over the next few years, with more than 100 placed in Camden by 2017.
Better yet, these powerful kiosks will offer more than lightning speeds. You’ll be able to make calls, charge your smartphone and gain access to maps, all free of charge. All services are funded entirely from revenues made from the advertising on the Link’s digital displays. BT also intend to allocate 5% of airtime to non-commercial good causes to benefit the local community.
All existing BT phone boxes across the city will be replaced with the new kiosk system, with BT claming that they will take up less space on the streets than the traditional phone box. Each kiosk is set to feature embedded sensors that can track air and noise pollution, outdoor temperature and traffic conditions, with the purpose of introducing smart services to local councils.
Key feature overview
- Connect to free ultrafast Wi-Fi using your personal device. (1)
- Access maps, directions, and city services from an easy-to-use touchscreen tablet. (2)
- Stay in touch with free phone calls from BT. (3)
- Press the dedicated red 999 button in the event of an emergency. (4)
- Safely charge your device using one of two USB ports. (5)
- Enjoy more room on the pavement with Link’s sleek, resilient design. (6)
- View public service announcements and more relevant advertising on two 135.7cm HD displays. (7)
London is second only to New York in welcoming Links to its streets, which were first installed in January this year as part of LinkNYC. Join our mailing list for further updates, and receive more of the latest mobile news and tips straight to your inbox.