Cellphone service coming to NYC subway stations

Of all the places we'd like better cellphone service, the New York subway system ranks pretty high on the list. It's not that we want to hold conversations down in that endless maze of tunnels; somehow, we don't think we'd be able to hear much over the endless din of inscrutable service announcements, Central American musicians and random insane screamers. But the idea of being able to send text messages or catch up on news during those interminable waits is very appealing — especially if when our train is delayed and we need to fill in our peeps. So, it's good to know New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority is requesting proposals from cellphone providers for exclusive rights to wire the city's stations and platforms (no service is planned in the tunnels or trains themselves). Verizon, Cingular, Sprint and T-Mobile are all considering bidding on the contract which could be worth as much as $100 million over 10 years. The winning bidder would have to open their subway net to other providers, but could charge roaming fees. We've gotten used to not paying those, but we just might be willing to hand over a few cents per connection just to be able to check our mail while we're down in the tube station at midnight.

[Jason Reich @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

They were worried about doing this on London Underground because the Madrid bombs were set off by mobile phone.

[Felix @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

yeah but nyc just awarded a $212mil contract to beef up security in mta. some 1000 cameras and 3000 sensors over 3 years.

[M. @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Knowing the MTA they'll cook the books soon enough to raise the fares once again.

[Marc @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Not exactly. The Yard confirmed that bombs were triggered manually. No cell phone involved.

We have coverage in Paris Underground for several years now. Talking is painful and embarassing. SMS, chat, and gaming are very high on the list for kids, blackberry email for all those salarymen.

[robin @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Yeah, what Marc said. Remember the MTA cut off service and Bloomberg publicly questioned that ill-conceived idea?

I only worry about avoiding Annoying Cell Girl below ground now.

[james hare @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Here in Washington, we have cell phone service on the Metro, but it's only Verizon. I think blackberries work cause everybody's all emailing the whole ride home (me, I'd leave the blackberry at home and tell work to eat it...ain't no way there's an email that can't wait till tomorrow). The service is okay, but often it's problematic in the tunnels. On top of that, it was another opportunity for Metro to put a bunch of paternalistic signs up about how you should "keep your cell phone conversations to yourself." It's one of the wonderful things about the DC area-the friggin mass transit system wants to play parents. Punks.

[Christopher Wilson @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

If tmobile/cingular got the contract, wouldnt sprint/verizon NOT be able to roam onto their network and vice versa though? They should give one GSM and one CDMA contract if this is the case.

[Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Here in Boston, there are already plans to bring cell service to the T. But what I've heard is that it's going to be a third party, not one of the big cellular carriers, that will be providing the service, thus meaning no roaming fees! But the idea of being able to text someone who's waiting for you while you've been waiting 25 minutes for a train is excellent, I hope it starts apperaing here soon.

[julius @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

This is PLATFORM ONLY.

That means you can chat while waiting for your train, but not actually between stations.

And if they ever do wire up the tunnels too, it's really not that annoying, most New Yorkers are pretty good about it. I live in Astoria, and when I take the above ground N train, the few conversations I hear aren't that annoying and are pretty drowned out by the train itself.

Of course, it may just be my neighborhood... if you get stuck on the train with some east village sex-in-the-city-wanna-be girl... ugh.

[Brad @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

In Chicago, they're wiring the stations and the tunnels.

Unfortuneately, they've been working on it for about 7 years now and it's worthless. It won't even be done when I graduate in four years.

[Art P. @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

It's "peop's"... as in, short for "peoples." See ya,

Ap

[spongebob @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Here in DC, we've got Verizon on the platforms. Actually, my e815 can also pull a bar or two of signal in the tunnels, and I'm sure it's not the only superstar handset that can do so. Since I spend a couple hours a day underground, it's nice to receive text, make calls, and all that. I especially like getting my text alerts about metro service disruptions while I'm waiting for a train. I think Verizon's got an exclusive contract for a couple more years.

[Alex @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

I pray to God that this contract does not go to Cingular. Then they'd be able to charge for bogus roaming charges underground too. And to think that moving to my underground bomb shelter was where I am safe. Pfff.

[Lazarus Pryor @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

even if that security were updated that shit would still get stolen

[togran @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

I can get service throughout the entire DC Metro system with Verizon, not just the platforms or stations. But like spongebob said, it is only Verizon, I don't think any other carriers get any service below ground.

Too bad they can't get some bathrooms installed in the stations.

[Josh Carr @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Im not sure how I feel about this, precisely for the mallrat with the loud cellvoice reason. I forsee a rise in violence in the subway system.
As for the 212 million security upgrade, that's such bullcrap, use the money to build a second ave line.

In addition that central american musician remark is INCREDIBLY racist. Shame on you.

[YourNameHere @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Yup, DC Verizon coverage isn't too bad. You just have to be careful when going long distances between underground stations (e.g. Roslyn/Shady Grove) because of the dip, the signal doesn't carry very well and it will go in and out. Also, depending on the placement of the cell receptors, if you go up by a manager's station you'll lose coverage because it's a blind spot due to the massive amounts of concrete they used for the 'floating' levels. Same goes for the opposite, when the cell receptors are above those levels, you'll find blind spots below them. It takes some getting used to and getting to know where the reception is or is not in a station and even then you find yourself losing signal at the oddest places. Although it's always nice to have the chance to even try to call somebody you're meeting up with as you're getting on the train as opposed to calling as you get on the escalator into the station and you don't even know how long the delay on the train is.

[Johnny @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

you know, people on phones are rarely all that bad. the only time i've ever been bothered by them is in a movie theater, during a movie.
meanwhile, how many times have i been stuck at an underground station and ended up half an hour late or more, with no reception to beg the person to forgive me? much more frustrating.

by the way, #13, i hope you're joking about that statement being "incredible racist", but i get this sinking feeling you're actually serious.

see, racist is having a prejudice AGAINST somebody because of their ethnicity, and that's not what they were doing.

and i bet if they were saying that a lot of white people do something that a lot of white people, in fact, do, you wouldn't have said a word. my point? PC is only good if its a computer.

[DF @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

10 points for working a reference to The Jam into the story, Marc :-)

[Josh Carr @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

You don't get it, he put "Central American Musicians" in the same group with other "annoyances" and btw, not all subway musicians are central american #15. This is indeed racist, its not about PC.

[Strx @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Over in Stockholm, Europe, subway stations and tunnels have had full cellphone coverage for years - and they recently upgraded the wiring to 3G/umts.

In other words, making a few funky real time video calls when stuck in a tunnel 60 feet below ground, is a breeze. And that's sooo totally 21st century.

[Dave @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Does anyone know if this plan would include Grand Central Terminal?