Cellular service starts in subway

St George Station is accessible, PRESTO and Wi-Fi enabled and starting on June 17 it’s also cellular phone capable.

Mayor John Tory and TTC Chair Josh Colle announced that WIND Mobile is the first wireless carrier to sign on to the TTC’s cellular network.

In a joint announcement with BAI Canada and WIND Mobile, Colle confirmed that TTC riders with WIND Mobile devices can make and receive calls and text messages at platform level at St George, Bay and Bloor-Yonge. Cellular availability will be expanding to more stations this year and in 2016.

“Providing self-service features to customers are among the many modernization efforts were making at the TTC to ensure our customers have a more enjoyable ride,” Colle said.

TTC riders with WIND service now have access to unlimited talk, text and data service underground in subway stations.

“This will enhance the way that people stay connected to families, business and friends as we go about living our lives in this busy city,” Tory said. “I can’t count the number of times that I’ve been on a platform and just wanted to make one call to tell someone that I was running late and couldn’t do it.”

The announcement comes two days after Colle and Deputy CEO Chris Upfold shared progress on the 10-minutes-or better network with the media at Bathurst Station.

“Over the coming months, we will have 52 routes that will operate 10-minutes-or-better across the entire city. Service on these routes will be more reliable for all of our riders from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. all day, every day,” Colle said on June 15.

The 10-minute-or-better service improvements are progressively being introduced in the May, June, September and October board periods. Full rollout of the network will be completed in 2016 when new buses and Operators are scheduled to be deployed.

“Delivering Wi-Fi access in the downtown “U” ahead of the Pan Am Games, and now cellular phone service in subway stations, is something that customers have asked for, and frankly expect,” Upfold said at St George Station. “The announcement we made earlier this week about the ten-minutes-or-better service is about the quantity of time our customers spend with us. This announcement today about the partnership with BAI Canada and WIND Mobile is about the quality of time our customers spend with us.”

“It’s about making sure they get the information when they need it, that they feel safe and secure and that they make their last connection before leaving the TTC – that’s a huge benefit.”