A G train inside the Church Av station.
Marc A. Hermann / MTA
Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal is pushing Verizon and T-Mobile to immediately activate cell service for their customers in parts of the city’s subway system that already have the necessary infrastructure.
In a letter sent on March 25 to Dan Schulman and Strini Gopalan, the respective CEOs of Verizon and T-Mobile, the borough president expressed strong support for the companies bringing their services to select subway stations. The call to action follows the installation of key infrastructure by Boldyn, the MTA’s partner in the ongoing connectivity project.
The letter states that the rollout has already covered select transit areas in the Big Apple beyond the borough of Manhattan. These areas include the 42nd Street shuttle, the Joralemon Street tunnel, and segments of the G train line.
While Verizon and T-Mobile customers reportedly have service on the shuttle, Holyman-Sigal urged the companies to turn on connectivity in the other areas, which competitor AT&T has already done.
The partnership between the MTA, connectivity company Boldyn, and phone companies is projected to generate significant benefits for the agency and its riders, the official said.
“This will follow what AT&T has already done, but they shouldn’t be the only carrier delivering this service to their customers,” the letter stated. “The partnership with the MTA, Boldyn, and cell carriers is expected to result in over $1 billion in benefit for the MTA and its customers – but only if all major carriers participate.”
Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal is calling on Verizon and T-Mobile to activate cell service in parts of the subway system where infrastructure is already installed.Photo by Donna Aceto/Gay City News
amNewYork contacted both Verizon and T-Mobile to ask whether they had received the borough president’s letter and if they would be activating connectivity; the newspaper is awaiting responses.
Rolling out cell service in subways
The MTA has been rolling out cell service in subway tunnels as part of a years-long effort. So far, only a handful of train lines currently have cell phone service.
Last year, MTA officials announced that expanded cell service infrastructure would be installed in the 4 and 5 train tunnels from Bowling Green in Manhattan to Borough Hall in Brooklyn. Major portions of the G train from Court Street to Hoyt-Schermerhorn Streets were also slated to get cell connectivity.
Boldyn, which is the same company that outfitted train stations with connectivity infrastructure, confirmed on March 26 that AT&T service is now active on the 4 and 5 lines between Borough Hall and Fulton Street stations, and on the G line between Court Square and Hoyt-Schermerhorn Streets stations.
Hoylman-Sigal said he wants full cell service activated in the areas where it is possible within the next month.
“I urge you to quickly prioritize delivering the 5G service that your customers deserve, need, and expect to be connected to everywhere that the infrastructure is installed,” he wrote. “This will improve the daily commutes for millions of New Yorkers as the infrastructure is installed throughout the city.”
Meanwhile, MTA board members and staff discussed transit cell phone service during a committee meeting on Monday.
“Our 5 million riders a day is the greatest incentive that the carriers have,” said Jamie Torres-Springer, president of construction and development at the MTA. “We leave it to them to analyze this. I’m very confident that they will see and understand that they need to sign on.”