Southwark and Camden First to Get FREE 1Gbps WiFi and BT’s LinkUK Kiosks

The London Boroughs of Southwark and Camden have been confirmed as the first areas in the city to benefit from BT’s new LinkUK service, which will use special kiosks (“Links“) to deploy free Gigabit public WiFi, free UK phone calls and a range of other digital services.

The new service, which was first unveiled last year as part of a partnership between BT, Intersection (LinkNYC) and advertising company Primesight, is being funded by the revenues from advertising on the kiosk’s large 55″ HD digital displays and via BT’s 17,500 existing payphone kiosks across the UK.

The kiosks are set to replace hundreds of BT’s existing phone boxes across the capital and will also support other features, such as mobile device charging (two USB charging ports) and access to maps, directions and local services via a touchscreen.

Camden is already one of the first to benefit from this, with Southwark to follow. More than 100 of the new kiosks are expected to be installed in the London Borough of Southwark, with the first ones due to appear sometime this year (no solid date is given).

Peter John, Leader of Southwark Council, said:

“Southwark is one of the key business and cultural hubs in London and home to some of Britain’s most loved tourist attractions. The increased connectivity and access to local services Links will bring to Southwark will undoubtedly benefit residents, visitors and businesses alike and supports our ambition to become a digital council.”

Nick Hale, MD Ventures, BT Wholesale and Ventures, said:

“This is the phone box of the future. We’re evolving the phone box to make it relevant to people in the 21st century by offering them ultrafast Wi-Fi, free phone calls, rapid mobile charging, a range of digital and information services and all for free.

Southwark is at the heart of one of the greatest cities in the world and it’s entirely fitting that it will become one of the first boroughs in the UK to benefit from the new Links as we look to transform the look of our payphones and the services they offer the public.”

Under the plan at least 750 Links will be installed across central London and in other major cities across the United Kingdom over the next few years. We can’t help but wonder how long it will take before vandals decide to ruin them.