Confederation Line plans for uninterrupted underground wireless

OC Transpo isworking with wireless providers to achieveuninterruptedcellular service deep underground.

The service is expected tobe available intime for the launch of theConfederation Line in 2018, saidStephen Blais, the chair ofthe city's transit commission.

"It's an important service to offer," Blais said. "It's a value-addand it just improves the quality of the offering that much more. Ifthat's what it takes to get a couple people on the train or on the busthen it's a good investment to get them out of their car."

The city's LRTimplementation office said it isalready in "advanced discussions" with wireless providers to enable serviceat underground stations in an effort tomake 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, saidwireless 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.