MTA Planning Cellphone and Wi-Fi in New York Subway, Will Attempt to Decrease Booger/Seat Ratio In Meantime
- September 26th, 2007
- 3 Comments
Well this is a hot little bit of news. Transit Wireless LCC is working with the MTA to add cell and Wi-Fi connections to 277 subway stations throughout New York, which will bring the system well into the 20th century if not the 21st.
This is not free, mind you. Transit Wireless and the construction company will pay the MTA about $46.8 million — a paltry sum — for the pleasure of offering you connectivity. Right now it appears we’re looking only at infrastructure, not actual access, and that providers and carriers will tap into the MTA network to offer service on each of their frequencies. I have a call into the PR folks to get confirmation on what, if anything, us poor straphangers are getting.
UPDATE - Just got in touch with the PR folks. Wi-Fi and cell access will be free, strangely enough. We shall see.
When can you expect a dialtone underground?
Within two years of an order to proceed from the MTA, Transit Wireless must install cell phone and wireless Internet service at six stations; secure at least one major cell phone carrier for the stations and demonstrate the effectiveness of the system.
Ken Sander (Who am I?)
1 year ago
It is my understanding that the service will be in the stations, not in the tunnels. You still wouldn’t be able to make/receive calls while riding underground
John Biggs (Who am I?)
1 year ago
thank god
bob (Who am I?)
1 year ago
So some company you’ve never heard of is going to pay 46 million, build a cell phone network in one of the toughest construction evironments on earth and no one is going to pay extra? If you believe that I have some nice bridges to sell you.
I’ve worked on subway projects - it’s incredibly tough. Where will they put the equipment? How will the vent all the heat the equipment generates? It’s easy on rooftops, but underground?