Will Subway Stations Soon Have Wifi?
Subway fares might be going up, The MTA's capital plan might be funded by debt, and the city's mass transit lines might be overrun by rats but hey, commuting in New York might not be all bad.
Boingo and Transit Wireless will start hooking up wifi in the city's subway stations over the next five years, according to an announcement today.
The service will be available in Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Queens.
Both Boingo subscribers and "roaming partners" on Skype, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon can get "one-click" access.
Looks like the move to bring wifi underground first kicked off in January, when Transit Wireless said it would bring the service to 30 stations.
A rep from Transportation Alternatives told the Voice the idea is generally "well received by a lot of transit riders. It's something that they see as a positive service and a benefit to their commute."
Many straphangers think it will make their daily trips less dangerous -- especially in light of MTA budget cuts, which have removed agents from many stations. Wifi, according to the rep, "adds an element of safety. [Riders] can make emergency calls."
Follow Victoria Bekiempis @vicbekiempis.
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