1,600 Apartments In Newark Score Cheap High-Speed Internet

NEWARK, NJ — More than 1,600 apartments in Newark are getting a chance to score high-speed internet for as little as $20 a month through a new partnership between the city and internet service provider Andrena.

On Thursday, city and housing officials joined representatives from Andrena at a news conference to announce the new partnership, which will deliver “affordable high-speed internet connectivity” to 14 affordable housing buildings overseen by the Newark Housing Authority.

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Since the first building installation earlier this year, more than 150 housing units have adopted Andrena’s new service – and many more are expected to follow, officials said.

The service will allow residents to connect to the web for research, shopping, video calls, streaming services, online banking and more. Residents will also have access to free wi-fi in common areas within and around the public housing buildings.

Compared to an average rate of $75 a month, Andrena will offer residents connectivity starting at $20 a month, saving them as much as $700 a year.

Newly connected affordable housing developments are located across Newark’s five wards: 963 and 991 Frelinghuysen Avenue; 100 and 122 Ludlow Street; 801, 789, and 815 North 6th Street; 880, 900, and 920 Franklin Avenue; 31 and 35 Van Vechten Street; 516 Bergen Street; and 214 South Street.

Andrena worked with local telecom companies to train local residents to install the service, including Black-owned and Newark-based Teknogrid.

Mayor Ras Baraka called the new partnership a “game changer” for thousands of people.

“High-speed internet will enable Newarkers to take well-paid jobs from home, plus access online education and telehealth appointments,” he said. “In today’s digital age, it is vital that we afford equal opportunities for Newark residents to thrive.”

BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE

Advocates say that Newark has a “digital divide” caused by the lack of access and adoption of broadband internet. According to 2022 U.S. Census numbers, nearly one in five Newark households do not have an internet subscription at home. Additionally, nine percent of Newark families lack a computer.

A recent study from local nonprofits Project Ready and Newark Trust for Education found that the biggest barrier to broadband access is likely “affordability” – not the lack of physical infrastructure.

While New Jersey’s average download speed is 136 Mbps, the average Newark family has a broadband speed of only 79.5 Mbps – despite the infrastructure being in place. No Newark zip code averages 100 Mbps, the amount a family of four needs, researchers said.

The city has been making headway on internet equality over the past few years, officials have previously reported.

For example, Newark Fiber – the city’s public-private gigabit data network that launched in 2016 – offers supercharged, high-speed internet connections in participating residential and commercial buildings, parks and on some streets of the city. Read More: Free Wi-Fi In Newark; City 1st In NJ To Use High-Tech Kiosks

Newark Fiber continues to accept applications for properties that are interested in offering connectivity as a service. Property owners and users who are interested in adopting Newark Fiber can submit an inquiry online here.

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