Inside the Most Ambitious Public Wi-Fi Plan Ever

The pay phone is finally getting with the times.

Ten thousand pay phone kiosks in New York City are being made over into stations offering free Wi-Fi, domestic calls and directions.

Best of all: That whole paying part won't exist.

Here's a look at how New York City is working to bring Internet that is 20 times faster than the average home service in New York City to everyone on the street -- and for free.

The Modern Pay Phone

In a tech obsessed city, the new Wi-Fi stations have something for everyone.

Users can expect free Wi-Fi 100 times faster than other municipal systems, free domestic phone calls, a charging station and a touch screen tablet they can use to access city services.

Tourists are even served too: The booths will offer directions.

Who's Paying For It?

You may be thinking, 'It sounds like a dream! But who's paying for it?'

The plan, called LinkNYC, is a partnership between New York City and CityBridge, a group comprised of several large technology companies, including Qualcomm and Titan.

Not only will tax payers not have to foot the bill for the kiosks but they're actually expected to help the city generate new revenue.

The city estimates LinkNYC booths will generate more than half a billion dollars in revenue from digital advertising over the first 12 years.

Security

It's advisable to always err on the side of caution, especially when using a public Wi-Fi network, however LinkNYC is kicking security up a notch.

Users will receive an encrypted connection to the hotspot and will be able to access the network without logging in and out, making for a seamless roaming experience.