US-based Transit Wireless (TW) has received $200m in funding from Broadcast Australia to equip the New York Transit with free Wi-Fi services.

As part of the deal, Broadcast Australia will take a majority stake in TW.

TW will take two years to wire six subterranean stations near Manhattan and four years to complete the remaining 271 underground stations.

The Wi-Fi service will come in the form of smoke-detector-sized antennas, which will allow passengers internet access on platforms, mezzanines and in sections of the tunnels.

Transit Wireless partnered with New York Transit for the project in 2007 but it was delayed due to a lack of funds, according to hothardware.com.