New York City turned on its first Link5G small cell, located in the Morris Heights neighborhood of the Bronx this week, which marks a new phase of LinkNYC. Along with 5G, the towers will provide free WiFi, nationwide phone calls, and other digital services to historically underserved areas in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and Northern Manhattan.
Mayor Eric Adams held a press conference with LinkNYC CEO Nick Colvin to show off the first active Link5G facility. “Accessible broadband and phone service isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity,” he said. “These new LinkNYC 5G kiosks are going to finally help to close the digital divide and expand and improve mobile technology coverage all over this city.”
Building on a base of 2,000 WiFi kiosks, a public/private consortium of CityBridge, ZenFi Networks and Intersection will deploy 2,000 Link5G small cell towers. Comptek Technologies is the designer and manufacturer of the small cells, which accommodate five MNOs. However, LinkNYC is still in conversation with all major carriers, and two are planning to deploy radios this year.
The team’s objective was to design a multi-tenant, multi-technology structure that could seamlessly integrate into the streetscape of New York City, without sacrificing technology. Highlights of the structure include five independent, RF-optimized bays to house antennas and integrated radios. Each of these bays can be accessed independently, and each section utilizes frequency specific shrouding to minimize losses. It also includes multiple RAD centers for optimal technology specific siting, including, but not limited to, 5G mmWave, WiFi, C-band, and other licensed and unlicensed spectrum.
The small cell pole design has been approved for deployment in the commercial and manufacturing districts. LinkNYC is waiting for residential approval from the Public Design Commission. “There are some residential areas that coincide with commercial districts and so there are people who will see these new 5G kiosks in their neighborhood,” Adams said.
ZenFi joined the consortium in 2019 and so far, one million feet of fiber has been installed and one million more is expected for the new 5G small cells.
By J. Sharpe Smith, Inside Towers Technology Editor
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