NYC trash cans could become WiFi Hotspots

Back in 2014, New York City agreed to turn old payphones found all around the city into WiFi hotspots. And now a Massachusetts company called BigBelly wants to add the same WiFi hotspot capability to ... trashcans. BigBelly has applied a grant from the NYC Mayors Office that would turn hundreds of trash cans into hotspots for underserved neighborhoods around the city. BigBelly has been making high-tech trash cans that are solar powered to detect if the garbage inside is too smelly, it will call trash collectors to take the trash away. The garbage container can also compress the garbage down. The hotspot trashcans will have data speeds measured at 50 to 75 mb/second. The trashcans will only be on ground level, so there is no interference with skyscrapers. Additionally, the trashcans could also be used as billboards. BigBelly is planning to continue more testing in the near future, and if the government gives them the all clear, production should start this fall.

Via: Engadget

Source: BigBelly