Rogers to take over TTC subway cellphone service

The deal could resolve the impasse that has left public transit riders in Canada’s largest city unable to use their cellphones on the tunnel system.

Thestar.com
April 11, 2023
Robert Benzie, Alyshah Hasham, Ben Spurr

Rogers will be providing wireless service on Toronto’s subway network after entering into an agreement to acquire the Canadian operations of BAI Communications Inc., the company awarded the contract in 2012.

“With this acquisition, Rogers will now be able to undertake the investments required to build a comprehensive and reliable 5G network to the entire TTC subway system,” Rogers said in a news release Monday night.

The deal could resolve a long-standing impasse that has left almost all TTC riders without cell service underground despite serious public safety concerns, including four homicides on the transit system in the past year.

“We know safety is top of mind for Torontonians. Residents and visitors expect wireless connectivity when they’re travelling on the TTC’s subway system,” said  Ron McKenzie, Rogers’ Chief Technology and Information Officer, in the press release.

It is unclear whether this deal will provide a way for all Torontonians to get the connectivity they want on the subway -- or just Rogers customers.

The BAI network including 911 service for all users only covers the tunnels in the “downtown U” section of Line 1 from St. George station to Bloor-Yonge station via Union, as well as service from Sheppard West to Vaughan Metropolitan Centre. The rest of the underground sections of the network are without wireless infrastructure including 911 calls.

According to the press release, that means only 25 per cent of the tunnels are covered for cell service.

“Rogers will work to quickly address gaps in the busiest and most critical sections of the subway system.” the release said, adding that “extensive fibre network and radio equipment upgrades are needed to modernize the network, and increase cellular capacity of the current 3G and 4G network and the quality of services.”

Rogers expects its acquisition of BAI Canada to close in the next two weeks.

Earlier on Monday, Coun. Paul Ainslie (Ward 24, Scarborough-Guildwood), who sits on the TTC board, said he had no direct knowledge of a potential deal. But if a telecom giant like Rogers does buy out BAI, the new provider should bring its competitors on board as part of the package to ensure all TTC customers get coverage, he said. Ainslie pointed to Montreal, where Rogers, Telus and Bell have cooperated to provide wireless service on the Metro, as an example to follow.

“I would really hope that they would play nice in the sandbox, as they say,” he said.

In 2012, the city gave Australian company BAI exclusive rights for 20 years to provide the wireless infrastructure on the subway system and sign up the service providers in exchange for $25 million. In that time, only Freedom Mobile has signed on. Bell, Rogers and Telus did not, now citing in part that the aged infrastructure wouldn’t be able to handle the number of users or their data requirements.

There were no deadlines or benchmarks for BAI to meet in the contract that was signed, head of the TTC Rick Leary told city council last month. The proposed contract originally required the winning bidder to sign up enough carriers to cover 60 per cent of Toronto within a year, or transfer the contract to another party, but that requirement was dropped from the contract BAI signed. (Freedom Mobile only covers about six per cent.)

A TTC spokesperson said that BAI exceeded its contractual obligations by building infrastructure for Wi-Fi in stations and for cell service in the downtown “U” tunnels and Sheppard extension tunnels without the big telecoms signing on.

City council passes motion on TTC cellphone service
On March 30, Toronto city council passed a motion by Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie urging the city to “call on all cellphone providers” to ensure service is available across the subway system and to notify the provincial and federal governments of the request.

Leary told council discussions were ongoing with the big service providers and that it is “very disappointing” they haven’t signed on. One thing under consideration is how much it would cost to upgrade the infrastructure, he said.

“We’re in discussions with them right now trying to shame them to get in here,” Leary said, adding that a report would be brought to the board next month. “Because of the social issue that’s happening, the security issue, there seems to be more of an interest.”

The TTC board next meets on Thursday.

“This is an important step in the right direction. Now we need everyone working together to get this done and ensure every cellphone can work on the subway system at all times. I’m looking forward to having better cellular and Wi-Fi access on our system -- it’s long past due. I’m proud Council spoke clearly on behalf of all Torontonians at our last meeting to send a message to the cell providers to make this happen,” said McKelvie Monday night.

TTC cell service a hot topic in mayoral race
The lack of subway cell service has become a hot button topic for Toronto’s mayoral hopefuls.

At Queen’s Park, the issue of TTC connectivity is also being closely watched.

Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney, noting the province provides free Wi-Fi on all GO Transit trains and buses, urged “the city of Toronto and the future mayor to find a resolution on this matter as quickly as possible.”

“We are all deeply concerned about the increased number of violent incidents on public transit in the last few weeks and I know that transit riders want to remain connected when they’re riding public transit,” Mulroney said last week.

“The public transit system under the jurisdiction of the province of Ontario now has free Wi-Fi because we agree that it’s essential,” she said, noting “the TTC is operated by the city of Toronto and, as such, the city of Toronto is responsible for finding a resolution with the telecommunication carriers.”

But NDP MPP Bhutila Karpoche (Parkdale--High Park) said Queen’s Park could do more.

“The TTC has been trying for more than a decade to introduce cell service across the system, but there has been no interest from the big three: Rogers, Bell or Telus,” said Karpoche.

“Cell service on the TTC plays a role in public safety and is a measure that should already be in place but isn’t,” she said.

Former councillor Ana Bailao welcomed news of the deal.

“After years of waiting there’s finally a deal for cell service on Toronto’s subways. Grateful for all of the efforts that went into folks pushing for this these past six weeks,” she said in a post on Twitter.

Brad Bradford, the Beaches-East York councillor, suggested the deal was too long in coming, and said that if he’s elected mayor he will “hold the TTC accountable to ensure all Torontonians get service.

“Waiting two more years for this buildout to happen, when it should have happened a decade ago, is another example of the endless delays and deferral that hold Toronto back,” he said in a statement.

“Good on Rogers, but how many headlines did it take to get us here?” asked candidate and former police chief Mark Saunders.