New York City’s Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT) is accepting proposals from firms for the right to install 5G mobile internet technology. Winning firms will become franchisees of New York City, according to an announcement by officials on Tuesday, who also said the project will provide “better coverage and service to the millions of New Yorkers who rely on mobile service each day.”
“Today, mobile service is indispensable to millions of New Yorkers, who depend on it for work, education, and communication,” says DoITT Commissioner Samir Saini. “This RFP takes innovative and important steps to deliver the best, fastest service to as many New Yorkers as possible, helping New York City become the fairest and most tech-friendly city in the world.”
Attaching signal boosting technology (also known as small cells) is the latest step metropoles across the U.S. are taking toward becoming “smart cities.” In April, San Jose announced a $5 million deal with AT&T to install small cells on their city’s light poles, while Boston and Chicago have similar plans in place with other cities expected to follow suit in the future. Recipients appointed the right to install 5G technology by the city will primarily utilize structures like municipal light and utility poles to provide the broadest level of access for residents and commuters.
“The city of New York has pledges to make access to technology a right—and not a privilege, for new Yorkers in every corner of every borough, as we work towards Mayor de Blasio’s goal to deliver high-quality, affordable broadband to all New Yorkers by 2025,” says Deputy mayor for Operations Laura Anglin. “This solicitation for mobile service providers puts that pledge into action, while also ensuring that New York City stays at the forefront of the 5G expansion hat will power the 21st century city.”
There are currently around 9,000 poles across New York City outfitted with similar technology for connecting cellphones to 3G, 4G, or LTE signals. Demand for utility and light poles is at a historic high in Manhattan, especially below 96th street. Consequently, DoITT shifted their focus on franchisee pole reservations to underserved areas across the boroughs. This effort resulted inmore poles getting reserved outside the city’s central business district than within, which helped with better meeting the needs for technology access in communities.
RFP (request for proposal) has built upon momentum from these successes, but is also introducing installations in other street furniture around New York City. DoITT is also encouraging RFP responders to propose ideas for neutral host installations, which would allow multiple service providers to offer service on the same pole and making wireless access more resilient. Mobile Telecommunications Franchise RFP is part of a broader process being facilitated by the mayor’s office of DoITT’s chief technology officer to maximize user of its rather scarce infrastructure to serve all New Yorkers equitably. In addition, RFP reserves New York City’s authority to issue new future solicitations to help advance its goal of universal broadband.
“As a member of the Franchise and Concession Review Committee, it has been important for me to ensure we are maximizing the utility of our municipal resources to benefit as many underserved New Yorkers as possible,” says Brooklyn Borough president Eric Adams. “In that spirit, I support the city’s effort to expand wireless connectivity through technology on our light poles and utility poles, and I hope this RFP will result in robust proposals to help us meaningfully close the digital divide.”
