CTA Subway Tunnels Should All Have 4G Coverage By End of Year
By Kate Shepherd in News on Oct 16, 2015 4:15PM
It should get much easier to use your phone when riding the L underground soon. After planning for years to install 4G Service in the CTA subways, the service should be ready in all Red and Blue line underground tunnels by the end of the year.
Workers have just finished installing 4G data coverage in the 1.2 mile stretch serving the Blue Line Logan Square and Belmont stations. The CTA's goal is to complete installation on all 22 miles of subways and tunnels on the Red and Blue lines by end of 2015. It would make Chicago the largest city in North America to have 4G wireless coverage in the entire subway system, according to the mayor's office.
The upgrade should allow riders to make phone calls, use the internet, stream media and check email without the interruptions that are so frequent now. The mayor's office points out that it's not just good for commuters checking their email—it will also help first-responders in the tunnels.
The city made a deal with four major cellphone providers to fund the $32.5 million project.