wyliepoon
Senior Member
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/...subway-cellphone-service-coming-soon-ttc.aspx
Subway cellphone service coming soon: TTC
By Melissa Leong, National Post
The TTC says a new survey shows riders want cellphone service on the subway, and the transit commission says it will have a plan to provide it within six months.
“We will find a way to do this,†said TTC chairman Adam Giambrone, who said he has been working with telecommunications companies to equip the city’s underground stations and tunnels with cellphone and wireless Internet service.
“It’s not a matter of ‘if’. It’s a matter of ‘when’.â€
Discussions are expected to continue for at least six months to deal with technical issues before the TTC will be ready to announce a concrete plan, he said.
The initiative received a boost this week when market research landed on his desk showing that TTC riders support the idea. Fifty-nine percent of TTC
riders in Toronto are in favour of bringing cellphone service to the subways, and 24% were indifferent, he said.
Seventeen percent were opposed, saying they did not like hearing other people’s conversations and they found ringing phones noisy and intrusive.
“We see in these results that there is actually fairly firm support for cellphone service across the system.â€
Mr. Giambrone said they are still exploring how to wire the tunnels. Work inside the tunnels occurs during a limited three-hour window in the middle of the night and he does not want to take resources away from other priority projects, such as replacing tracks.
“We may be able to [mount receivers and] beam from the stations,†he said.
Next year, commuters will be able to subscribe to e-mail alerts about subway interruptions. And one day, when cellphone reception and wireless technology is available underground, TTC riders will be able to receive the notifications on their mobile devices, said Brad Ross, a spokesman for the TTC.
“There’s all sorts of benefits beyond simply being able to talk on the phone, e-mail and text,†he said.
“If you’re waiting at a station and there’s a delay, you can phone home or your boss if you’re late for work. Typically, in subway stations that are underground, you can’t do that and you often see line-ups at payphones.â€
The system will cost about $30-million and the cellphone carriers will likely foot the bill to install it, Mr. Giambrone said; installation could take two to three years.
The technology is already standard in major transit systems around the world, where its introduction has often led to wistful discussions about when the subway was the city’s “last bastion of peace and quiet†and debate about cellphone etiquette.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority rolled out a campaign asking passengers to be courteous with cellphone use after the service became available last yar.
“Peace and quiet. It has a nice ring to it,†ads in train cars read.
Subway cellphone service coming soon: TTC
By Melissa Leong, National Post
The TTC says a new survey shows riders want cellphone service on the subway, and the transit commission says it will have a plan to provide it within six months.
“We will find a way to do this,†said TTC chairman Adam Giambrone, who said he has been working with telecommunications companies to equip the city’s underground stations and tunnels with cellphone and wireless Internet service.
“It’s not a matter of ‘if’. It’s a matter of ‘when’.â€
Discussions are expected to continue for at least six months to deal with technical issues before the TTC will be ready to announce a concrete plan, he said.
The initiative received a boost this week when market research landed on his desk showing that TTC riders support the idea. Fifty-nine percent of TTC
riders in Toronto are in favour of bringing cellphone service to the subways, and 24% were indifferent, he said.
Seventeen percent were opposed, saying they did not like hearing other people’s conversations and they found ringing phones noisy and intrusive.
“We see in these results that there is actually fairly firm support for cellphone service across the system.â€
Mr. Giambrone said they are still exploring how to wire the tunnels. Work inside the tunnels occurs during a limited three-hour window in the middle of the night and he does not want to take resources away from other priority projects, such as replacing tracks.
“We may be able to [mount receivers and] beam from the stations,†he said.
Next year, commuters will be able to subscribe to e-mail alerts about subway interruptions. And one day, when cellphone reception and wireless technology is available underground, TTC riders will be able to receive the notifications on their mobile devices, said Brad Ross, a spokesman for the TTC.
“There’s all sorts of benefits beyond simply being able to talk on the phone, e-mail and text,†he said.
“If you’re waiting at a station and there’s a delay, you can phone home or your boss if you’re late for work. Typically, in subway stations that are underground, you can’t do that and you often see line-ups at payphones.â€
The system will cost about $30-million and the cellphone carriers will likely foot the bill to install it, Mr. Giambrone said; installation could take two to three years.
The technology is already standard in major transit systems around the world, where its introduction has often led to wistful discussions about when the subway was the city’s “last bastion of peace and quiet†and debate about cellphone etiquette.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority rolled out a campaign asking passengers to be courteous with cellphone use after the service became available last yar.
“Peace and quiet. It has a nice ring to it,†ads in train cars read.
