NYC Subway Wi-Fi: City's Underground Will Soon Have Cell Phone, Internet Capabilities in Stations

Some New York City subway stations will soon be outfitted with Wi-Fi and cell phone service by summertime.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is reportedly teaming up with Transit Wireless to provide Grand Central Terminal, 34th Street Herald Square, Bryant Park, and other stations with cell phone service.

According to the New York Daily News, Transit Wireless is hoping to outfit all 277 subway stops with Internet and reception in the next three years.

But first things first - the two corporations announced they'll put wireless capabilities at 11 subway stations in Manhattan and 29 stops in Queens by July.

Transit Wireless representative William Bayne told the Daily News that riders traveling through Midtown Manhattan will soon be able to use their phones underground.

"Hundreds of millions of new annual subway patrons will soon receive the benefits of having all the major wireless carries," in stations, Bayne said this week. "We are setting the stage for future innovations that will provide riders with an enhanced experience in the New York City subway system."

This is Transit Wireless and the MTA's second push to supply Internet and cell service in train stations - the two companies first provided service at 30 subway stations late last year. Many of these stops were located on the west side of Manhattan, the Daily News reported.

Commuters will be able to use their cell phones inside the stations, on platforms and mezzanines, but won't have service inside the trains, since the tunnels won't be outfitted with Internet and reception capabilities.

Bayne told the Daily News that construction workers have started breaking ground on the new systems. The 250 million-odd commuters whose service providers are AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint and Verizon will soon be able to use their phones at subway stops.