On August 27, Tokyo Metropolitan Government and NTT East signed an agreement to promote the development and widespread adoption of open roaming-compatible Wi-Fi using public telephone booths.
Specifically, free Wi-Fi will be installed in public telephone booths located around major train stations where many people gather, in parks that serve as evacuation sites in the event of a disaster, and on islands where multiple communication methods are required.
Open roaming-compatible Wi-Fi offers three key features: secure connectivity, global connectivity, and connection with a single registration. It is highly convenient for Tokyo residents and tourists alike.
The agreement also includes strengthening disaster response capabilities, led by NTT East’s Disaster Prevention Research Institute.

目印となるステッカーを公衆電話ボックスに付けることで日常・災害時の利用を促進する（By attaching stickers to public telephone booths, users can be encouraged to use them in daily life and in emergencies.）

Toward the realization of a “Connected Tokyo,” Tokyo plans to install Wi-Fi in 1,500 public telephone booths over the next three years. This will triple the current number of free Wi-Fi hotspots.
Governor Koike Yuriko said, “Ensuring communications during a disaster is extremely important and a top priority. It will also be a lifeline for inbound tourists. From this perspective, I believe that installing Wi-Fi using public telephone booths is a very important initiative.”
President Shibuya Naoki said, “Public telephones are in the spotlight during disasters, but they are not used much under normal circumstances. By turning public telephone booths into Wi-Fi spots, they can play an important role as communications hubs both in normal times and during disasters.”
According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, open roaming Wi-Fi using public telephone booths will be available as early as November. They aim to ensure that it is fully operational by the end of fiscal year 2025.

※Translating Japanese articles into English with AI