AT&T Helping To Supply Free Wi-Fi To New York Parks

New Yorkers were greeted with news that the city has long been awaiting, free Wi-Fi for NYC parks. The roll out of free Wi-Fi will initially be limited to 20 parks around the city. This will be a welcomed addition to NYC, since enjoying hotspots located in Madison Square Park and Bryant Park. The program comes courtesy of AT&T in partnership with city government, and the carrier even aims to make Central Park safe for Wi-Fi in the coming months as well.

In announcing the latest Wi-Fi program last week with AT&T Chairman and CEO Randall Stephenson, our Mayor Michael Bloomberg was very pretty pleased that AT&T was giving New York parks free Wi-Fi. He said, ”New York City has the greatest network of public parks in the world, and we’ve invested heavily to expand and enhance them,” he said. “Now, thanks to the terrific corporate citizenship of AT&T, they will provide an even better experience.”

The deal, which will last for five years, comes years after the city abandoned its own plans to offer Wi-Fi in parks. The city had originally tapped WiFi Salon to provide wireless internet in 10 city parks in 2004, but that company ceased operations in 2009 after becoming a victim of the financial crisis.

AT&T’s Wi-Fi service is already available in a handful of locations, including Battery Park and Thomas Jefferson Park. Other locations will be set up throughout 2011. At this point, it looks like the company is only aiming to provide Wi-Fi in specific spots in the parks, so don’t necessarily expect to get service deep inside your favorite hideaway in Central Park.