Transit Wireless provides a shared wireless infrastructure to enable wireless communications services for the New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA) riders within 277 underground subway stations, and related opportunities.
Company Overview
Transit Wireless owns and operates the subway station wireless communications network and acts as a neutral host for extending a variety of wireless carrier services to NYCTA’s more than 1.6 billion riders annually. Major wireless carriers have already signed on to be partners on the Transit Wireless Network. In addition there is interest for several applications from public/private wireless providers.
Services to all 277 underground stations will be rolled out over the coming years. First services were launched in 6 stations in Chelsea in September 2011.
BAI, a leader in underground wireless networks, acquired a controlling interest in Transit Wireless in 2010.
What to Expect from Transit Wireless’ Network
Transit Wireless is building one of the most expansive Distributed Antenna System (DAS) networks globally. This network will be further supported by a comprehensive fiber backbone throughout New York City. Currently wireless and Wi-Fi service is available at 36 stations located throughout Midtown and the Upper West side.
Our network will enable:
- Wireless coverage extension to all underground NYC subway stations.
- Improved wireless consumer experience and utilization.
- Customer access to expansive wireless applications and services.
- Public Safety and Location Based Services like 911 for example.
- Support for NYC Transit Authority Services.
- Localized business promotion.
- Backbone for Digital Advertising.
- Ability for wireless carriers to enhance traffic, data throughput and capacity.
“One of the trickiest tasks was ensuring the cell hand-off between underground and above-ground antennas as callers walked in-and-out of stations.” – Nathan Cornish, RF Manager
Base stations are provided by wireless carriers for each band and technology; 700-LTE, 850-Cellular, 1900-PCS, 2100-AWS and other. These base stations connect to Transit Wireless’ Radio Interface and Optical Distribution System in the base station hotel. Radio signals are combined, converted to optical signals and distributed on Transit Wireless’ fiber optic cable through ducts under city streets to subway stations where the optical cables connect to multi-band RF Nodes.
RF Nodes are located on every platform, mezzanine and at various points within public access passageways. Coaxial cable is connected to each RF Node and extends signals to strategically located antennas throughout each subway station. Utilizing this approach, low-level radio signals are evenly distributed providing seamless coverage from above ground to underground stations.
A Network Management System monitors the service; detects problems and provides alerts so technicians can be dispatched if needed.