Rodrigo Torrejon | NorthJersey

Joining cities like New York, Philadelphia and London, Newark is now the latest to have free citywide Wi-Fi by way of high-speed internet kiosks.

Courtesy of Intersection

The high-speed Wi-Fi program, called LinkNWK, launched Wednesday and will span all five wards of the state's largest city. Similar to New York's LinkNYC kiosks, the city will have 45 Link kiosks spread throughout the borough to provided internet access, along with free charging stations, for its nearly 282,000 residents.

Currently, only two of the planned 45 kiosks are installed and active, said Crystal Rosa, city spokeswoman. The kiosks are installed by technology company Intersection, the same company responsible for the wireless kiosk programs for neighboring New York and Philadelphia, as well as London.

“Newark is once again defining itself to the state, nation, and world as a cutting-edge, high-tech city. These kiosks will enable residents and visitors alike to gain immediate information about Newark, ranging from upcoming cultural events to emergency service response,” said Mayor Ras Baraka, in a statement.

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The kiosks, which are shaped like flat, thin pillars with an interface about chest level, will provide residents with basics like news and weather, along with community information about arts and cultural programs, according to a city statement. The screens will also display photographs of the Brick City, along with announcing community events.

Installing and maintaining the kiosks will not cost taxpayers or users a dime, according to the city's statement, as native advertising in the kiosks will fund the program. Advertising is expected to cover the capital and operational costs associated with the deployment. LinkNWK is a private company, which declined to disclose its financial information.

The LinkNWK kiosks will be installed throughout the city around areas like the Newark Penn Station, the Prudential Center, and along main streets like Broad Street, Market Street and Martin Luther King Blvd.

Courtesy of Intersection

They will also be installed in neighborhood corridors like Clinton Avenue, Ferry Street and South Orange Avenue, according to the statement.

The kiosks will utilize the city's own Newark Fiber system, a program that offers more affordable internet to city residents. The program offers 1 gig and 10 gig speed for places like parks, streets and certain buildings. The program is part of the Newark Community Economic Development Corporation and offers rates based on the number of users in a given location.

Exclusive to Newark is the Link Wi-Fi app, which will allow users to connect securely to the city's wireless network. The app also provides a map showing the nearest wireless hotspot.

In recent years, with tech giants like Audible and Panasonic calling the city home, Newark has touted itself as a technology hub of the East Coast. The city has positioned itself as one of the remaining contenders for Amazon's second headquarters.

“Newark is a rising star in the tech economy," said Jen Hensley, president of Link at Intersection, in a statement. "And we are proud that LinkNWK will only add to this momentum.”

Newark collaborated with the Newark Community Economic Development Corporation, the New Jersey Institute of Technology and Intersection to implement LinkNWK.