MONTREAL – Bell, Rogers, Telus and Videotron said Wednesday that they are teaming up on a new $50 million mobile network for the Montréal metro, a move that will make that city one of the first in the world equipped with a 4G LTE mobile underground network on its subway system.
Within the next five to seven years, some 900,000 daily metro users will be able to browse the web, download music, and make and receive calls as 3G, 4G and 4G LTE technologies are deployed throughout the metro network, including in subway cars, tunnels and stations.
The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) said that construction of the network will be divided into five phases. The project design phase is underway now and installation is expected to begin by the end of this year at the Saint-Laurent and Place-des-Arts the stations on the metro’s green line.
"As a Montréal-based company since our founding in 1880, Bell is very pleased to be part of this collaborative agreement with the STM to deploy a world-class mobile communications network serving Montréal's metro system,” said Michel Dagenais, VP, wireless access network for Bell, in the announcement. "Part of our promise to deliver the best broadband mobile services to customers across Canada, Bell is committed to the consortium’s plan to provide metro users with access to the leading network technologies available worldwide.”
“Rogers has always been passionate about ensuring that Montréalers get the most out of their wireless services; we were the first Canadian carrier to offer the most advanced wireless technology in the world to Montréalers in 2011. This partnership, with the STM, is yet another example of our ongoing commitment to bring connected experiences to all of our customers, no matter where they choose to connect – at home or on the go,” added Sylvain Roy, Rogers’ president, Québec and EVP consumer sales and distribution.
“This project with the STM demonstrates our long-standing involvement with Montréal and offers yet another example of Telus’ unwavering commitment to putting its customers first,” said François Gratton, president of Telus Québec and Atlantic provinces. “We would also like to thank our project partners for their trust, since Telus was selected as the integrator responsible for designing and overseeing the network’s implementation.”
“Videotron is pleased to contribute to the technological development of the Montréal metro for the benefit of all users of the system,” said Videotron president and COO Manon Brouillette. “This exciting, large-scale project demonstrates the telecommunications industry’s leadership in innovation and its engagement with the community.”
