BY AL BARBARINO

Mayor Michael Bloomberg has announced two new tech initiatives to expand the city’s access to wireless and broadband connectivity, one of which encourages the deployment of leading broadband technologies across its commercial real estate buildings.

The Wireless Corridor Challenge will establish free public WiFi corridors in each of the five boroughs, while WiredNYC, described as LEED for broadband, establishes a Wired Certification rating system for the city’s commercial real estate.

“If New York is going to remain competitive in the global economy, we must find ways to support the entrepreneurs who are driving technological advances and creating jobs,” Mayor Bloomberg said this morning during a press conference held at 1 MetroTech Center in Downtown Brooklyn. “With these new initiatives, we are making targeted investments to improve our city’s wireless infrastructure and expand Internet access.”

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BY MONICA LINK

Residents and visitors strolling along Brooklyn’s Fulton Street will have no problem connecting to the internet. In a partnership between the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the Fulton Area Business Alliance, 1.2 miles of Fulton street – about 26 blocks, will have Wi-Fi for free and open to the public. The service will start at Rockwell place extending to Classon Avenue. It also covers BAM’s cultural district in the area.

The deal to offer the Wi-Fi was the result of the Wireless Corridor Challenge, an initiative created by New York City’s Economic Development Corporation. The initiative with 3.4 million in private funding and $900,000 in New York City money, aids with the design and implementation of free public W-iFi corridors in each of the five boroughs. The Wireless Corridor Challenge is a part of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s tech initiative’s to expand broadband in the city’s commercial buildings and public spaces.

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BY MONICA LINK

Asia-based investment bank and financial services company Nomura is beefing up Wi-Fi and technology in its Midtown Manhattan offices.

The company recently moved 2,000 of its employees into a16-floor renovated space at Worldwide Plaza. Nomura WWPThe company signed a 20-year lease in a deal to occupy the space. Inside of its offices is a client floor equipped with a secure Wi-Fi-enabled network. This will allow clients to communicate via smartphone or other Wi-Fi-enabled devices while conducting business on-site.

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