Articles in the “New York Times”:1 and the “New York Daily News”:2 announce that the New York City “Metropolitan Transportation Authority began soliciting bids for a 10-year contract that will involve immense technical complexity and probably be worth $50 million to $100 million” (New York Times).
Though not specifically broadband related, this RFP by the MTA is important because it represents the first time that any wireless technology has been embraced by the City’s subway system. I think that a planned expansion of cell systems into the subway is an important step in the right direction for New York, though limiting it to cellular technology shows that the MTA doesn’t fully “get it”.
I’ve spoken to many people who would spend upwards of 20-30 minutes waiting for a subway train to arrive, especially in stations that are outside of midtown and downtown Manhattan. These people want to be able to use their laptops and PDAs to get work done and to communicate with each other, and Wi-Fi would be the ideal technology for this. An ad-supported Wi-Fi network would complement the existing MTA advertising division.
One thing that I don’t get is that if this is meant to address safety and security issues, why the MTA wouldn’t want cell phones to be usable inside subway tunnels. Claiming concern about phones being used for remote detonation of bombs is preposterous: When was the last time that a terrorist setup a bomb in New York City, let alone in a subway? There are, frankly, plenty of other wireless technologies that could be used if a terrorist had the inclination.
Of greater concern should be the many times that someone would need assistance while stuck in a subway car halfway between stations, an event that happens at least weekly. Considering how many times the subway breaks down, I would think that the MTA would jump at the chance to give people the convenience of phone use while traveling.
[1]http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/25/nyregion/25phones.html
[2]http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/339738p-290096c.html
Filed under: New York City, News, Urban Wireless
