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The Toronto Transit Commission and BAI Canada announced the first cellular carrier to offer mobile service on the subway system today. WIND Mobile customers will now have cellular connectivity on the platforms of St. George, Bay, and Bloor-Yonge stations. Connectivity at Spadina Station and Line 1's lower loop will be available in time for next month's Pan Am Games.
"I can't even count the number of times as a TTC user I've been on the platform and just wanted to make that one phone call and couldn't do it," said Mayor Tory. "We have fallen behind other cities and still have a lot of catching up to do. Cities like Hong Kong and Singapore have been providing complete underground coverage for years. Beijing started rolling it out in 2008 and New York in 2011. If you can get wireless access in any cafe or library in Toronto then you should be able to in our transit system."
Any wireless carriers wanting to provide their customers with underground cellular service will be able to sign up through BAI Canada's shared WiFi and cellular infrastructure. Launched in 2013, WiFi connectivity is currently offered at 18 downtown subway stations within the lower loop, including St. George, Bay, Bloor-Yonge, and Spadina. The TCONNECT WiFi network represents one million one-hour sessions per month, with TTC customers using over 15 terabytes of data.
"I think people should put pressure on their carriers to sign up and we've set it up so that they can do so," said TTC Chair and Councillor Josh Colle. Mayor Tory reiterated that statement, hoping that more wireless carriers will realize the benefits of providing their customers with underground connectivity.
BAI Canada's underground network will be expanded to Sherbourne and Bathurst stations following the Pan Am Games. Wireless service is expected to be installed at 61 subway stations and 65 platforms by 2017. Following the complete rollout of the network in the stations, the TTC will focus on providing service throughout subway tunnels.
