Tokyo, NTT East Agree on Installing Wi-Fi Spots in Public Phone Booths

Governor Koike attended the ceremony on August 27 to sign a basic agreement between the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone East Corporation (NTT East) on installing Wi-Fi spots in public telephone booths and raising public awareness of the service.

The ceremony was also attended by NTT East President Shibutani Naoki. 

In accordance with its “Connected Tokyo” development policy and three-year action plan (FY2024-FY2026), the metropolitan government has been undertaking an initiative to spread across Tokyo a public Wi-Fi service compatible with the safe and convenient international standard OpenRoaming.

“Securing communications is a top priority in times of disaster. It will also provide a crucial lifeline for inbound tourists,” Governor Koike said. “Therefore, it is a very important initiative to install Wi-Fi by utilizing public telephone booths.”

She explained that, under the agreement, the project will start from areas around major Yamanote Loop Line stations as well as on some of Tokyo’s islands. OpenRoaming Wi-Fi spots will be installed at some 1,500 locations in the next three years, expanding the Wi-Fi infrastructure provided or supported by the metropolitan government to some 3,600 locations, three times the current total.

“These public telephone booths will be marked with a sticker, making it easy for everyone to know where they can use Wi-Fi,” the governor said. “Active use of the system—not only in times of disaster but also on a day-to-day basis—will move our efforts forward to create a ‘connected Tokyo.’”