Confederation Line plans for uninterrupted underground wireless
Transit Commission Chair Stephen Blais says wireless to be uninterrupted between stations
OC Transpo is working with wireless providers to achieve uninterrupted cellular service deep underground.
The service is expected to be available in time for the launch of the Confederation Line in 2018, said Stephen Blais, the chair of the city's transit commission.
"It's an important service to offer," Blais said. "It's a value-add and it just improves the quality of the offering that much more. If that's what it takes to get a couple people on the train or on the bus then it's a good investment to get them out of their car."
The city's LRT implementation office said it is already in "advanced discussions" with wireless providers to enable service at underground stations in an effort to make sure the Confederation Line is on par with most major urban transit systems, including Toronto and London.
If that's what it takes to get a couple people on the train or on the bus, then it's a good investment to get them out of their car.- Stephen Blais, transit commission chair
Blais said that OC Transpo has set aside an additional $1 million to keep wireless service functioning in underground tunnels outside of stations — a service that's not yet available in many other cities.
"I think society expects that we have uninterrupted service. Most people are reading the newspaper, or looking at some other app, maybe it's Facebook or Twitter while they're on transit," he said.
Steve Cripps, director of the city's LRT implementation office, said wireless service is being planned but not free Wi-Fi.
"The downtown LRT tunnel will be cellular enabled and OC Transpo has allocated funding for this initiative. Discussions are ongoing and are expected to continue over the summer," he said.