It has been almost 3 years since we were promised cell phone service on subway platforms. The economy tanked which caused Transit Wireless LLC to not be able to fulfill its promise. It is finally back on track thanks to Broadcast Australia which has taken a majority stake in Transit Wireless LLC. This is the same company that oversaw the wireless rollout for the Hong Kong subway system.
The agreement gave Transit Wireless two years to hook up six stations near 14th street with wireless. After that they have another four years to complete the rest of the 271 underground stations. They are installing small access points in the six stations within the next two months after which they will be rolling out to new stations at 10-15 stations a month.
This will finally give riders some mobile service on platforms and some parts of the tunnels. Truthfully I wish there would be a way to stop people from making phone calls on the trains yet still give them access to data. So far AT&T, Verizon, & Sprint look like they are signed up to pay Transit Wireless for using its network. I just cannot wait to finally get email on the subway or be able to check Google Maps while waiting for a train.
What do you think about cellular access on the subway?
via Bloomberg
andrewnyc ( View Profile) - Posts: 62
Posted: August 6, 2010 at 9:34 PM EST
I think data access underground would be great, but hopefully people won’t make too many voice calls down there. I used to live in DC (where Verizon had access in the subway), and most people didn’t try to talk underground, but maybe NY is different!
papped Not Registered
Posted: August 6, 2010 at 9:38 PM EST
1 – Bus schedules/transit/mapping info during transit, nice.
2 – Your battery won’t die so horribly during the zero signal period.
i don’t live in NY though, so boo…
Cee Not Registered
Posted: August 9, 2010 at 9:43 AM EST
>>1 – Bus schedules/transit/mapping info during transit, nice.
2 – Your battery won’t die so horribly during the zero signal period.
i don’t live in NY though, so boo… >>
Don’t worry, you can’t get those things here anyway – at least not accurately.
JerryD Not Registered
Posted: August 7, 2010 at 12:11 PM EST from my BlackBerry 9000
At the risk of sounding like a downer, why Wi-Fi? By the time this project is finished in 6 years, Smartphones will be using 4G and 5G(?) technology. I just hope however they implement Cell service allows for LTE and WiMax!
what Not Registered
Posted: August 9, 2010 at 10:56 AM EST
its not just wifi its cellular as well look at the press release.
“After an almost three-year delay, work is set to begin on a $200 million plan to bring mobile- phone and Wi-Fi service to New York’s subway stations. ”
more info here:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-07-30/new-york-city-subway-stations-to-get-mobile-phone-service-in-revived-pact.html
I agree the term wireless is used loosely in the post, and in the general public wireless is also now almost always associated with WiFi. This is indeed incorrect as many devices are wireless in the literal sense.
Rob Not Registered
Posted: August 7, 2010 at 12:45 PM EST
Late, really really late. In Berlin (Germany) you can access gsm network at the whole subway for 8 years.
Cee Not Registered
Posted: August 9, 2010 at 9:42 AM EST
TERRIBLE idea. It’s bad enough to have to listen to loud, non-stop cellphone gabbing on the buses; it will be worse on the platform as people have to speak louder to be heard over the trains. Isn’t loudly playing music so that earbuds are like speakers enough noise pollution down there?
I’ll be waiting for the equipment that makes it easy to zap obnoxious bus, elevator and restaurant gabbers’ phones.