Since the Links' deployment, there have been several concerns about the kiosks' features. Privacy advocates have stated that the data of LinkNYC users can be collected and used to track users' movements throughout the city. There are also concerns with cybercriminals possibly hijacking the Links, or renaming their personal wireless networks to the same name as LinkNYC's network, in order to steal LinkNYC users' data. In addition, prior to September 2016, the tablets of the Links could be used to browse the Internet. In summer 2016, concerns arose about the Link tablets' browsers being used for illicit purposes; despite the implementation of content filters on the kiosks, the illicit activities continued, and the browsers were disabled.
According to its specifications, the Links' Wi-Fi will cover a radius of 150 feet (46 m)[4][5][7][16][21] to 400 feet (120 m).[4][23][26] The Links' Wi-Fi is capable of running at 1 gigabit per second or 1000 megabits per second,[2][16][21][23] more than 100 times faster than the 8.7 megabit per second speed of the average public Wi-Fi network in the United States.[23][26] LinkNYC's routers have neither a bandwidth cap nor a time limit for usage, meaning that users can use LinkNYC Wi-Fi for as long as they need to.[26] The free phone calls are also available for unlimited use.[26] The network is only intended for use in public spaces,[26] though this may be subject to change in the future.[4] In the future, the LinkNYC network could also be used to "connect lighting systems, smart meters, traffic networks, connected cameras and other IoT systems,"[41] as well as for utility monitoring and for 5G installations.[4]
StarBridge Networks LYNX L-220 User Manual StarBridge Networks
Private network users will have to accept a network key in order to log onto the LinkNYC Wi-Fi.[46][56] This would make New York City one of the first American municipalities to have a free, encrypted Wi-Fi network,[16] as well as North America's largest.[4] LinkNYC would also be the fastest citywide ISP in the world, with download and upload speeds between 15 and 32 times faster than on free networks at Starbucks, in LaGuardia Airport, and within New York City hotels.[56] 2ff7e9595c
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