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Google’s Plan to Bring Free Superfast Wi-Fi to the World Has Begun

Updated Jul 6th, 2015 9:23AM EDT

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Your prayers have been finally answered – that is, if you asked for Google to come to New York City with free Wi-Fi for all. Because that’s totally happening this year, and it’s all part of Google’s grandiose plan to bring free Wi-Fi to the world.

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According to Bloomberg, Google has already set up a company that’ll handle the free Wi-Fi job in the Big Apple. Sidewalk Labs is the Google-backed startup that will turn 10,000 of New York’s old phone booths into ad-supported Wi-Fi pylons this September.

The company is leading a group of investors that are buying Control Group and Titan, companies working on covering New York City with free, superfast Wi-Fi.

The booths will provide cell-phone charging, free domestic phone calls and a touchscreen-based information point that delivers city and transit directions. Their most important feature will be free Wi-Fi Internet access though, and each pylon will have a range of 150 feet.

Each pylon will also deliver advertising on the sides, with the program expected to bring $500 million in ad revenue to the city over the next 12 years.

Chris Smith Senior Writer

Chris Smith has been covering consumer electronics ever since the iPhone revolutionized the industry in 2008. When he’s not writing about the most recent tech news for BGR, he brings his entertainment expertise to Marvel’s Cinematic Universe and other blockbuster franchises.

Outside of work, you’ll catch him streaming almost every new movie and TV show release as soon as it's available.