TORONTO – The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and BAI Canada brought wireless Internet service to Bay Station Tuesday as part of a broader plan to extend Wi-Fi and cellular capabilities to all underground subway stations in Toronto.
Bloor-Yonge and St. George were the first two stations to get Wi-Fi, in December 2013. Work has already begun at Wellesley, College, Dundas and Union stations, and 18 stations encompassing the lower loop and Spadina stations will have Wi-Fi service by the first quarter of 2015, ahead of the Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan Am Games in July 2015.
As with the initial stations, each station will host the TCONNECT Wi-Fi service and will be cellular-capable, ready for the Greater Toronto Area’s cellular operators to join the network. The network provides connectivity for transit riders on-the-go, and allows for business and transit applications such as digital signage used for passenger information services.
Wi-Fi and cellular infrastructure will be available in all public areas of all subway stations, including platforms, mezzanines, walkways and stairwells, while the second phase of the project is the extension of the cellular network within the TTC tunnels. All work is expected to be completed in three to four years.
“We are excited to announce this next stage of our work with the TTC, adding wireless infrastructure to 14 additional stations by March 2015,” said BAI Canada CEO Ken Ranger, in the news release. “Our shared Wi-Fi and cellular infrastructure is robust and reliable, and allows riders to get more value for the time they spend within the underground subway system.”
“Thousands of riders are logging on and using TCONNECT, which provides connectivity for the internet, social media and email, as well as access to real-time alerts and transit updates,” added TTC CEO Andy Byford. “We look forward to expanding the reach of that underground wireless experience throughout our multi-year agreement with BAI Canada, helping to modernize the network that moves Toronto.”
