Cellphone service introduced underground on TTC for WIND customers

WATCH ABOVE: WIND Mobile has become the first wireless company to offer cell service on the TTC but only for its’ customers. Mark McAllister reports.

The TTC, along with BAI Canada and Wind Mobile, are introducing cellular service to some underground subway stations.

Starting today, Wind customers will be the first to be able to make subterranean phone calls at St. George, Bay and Bloor-Yonge stations. Additional connectivity will be added on the downtown “U” portion of the Yonge-University-Spadina line, plus Spadina station, by the kick-off of the Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am games.

As the first carrier to sign onto the service, Wind Mobile is the exclusive provider for cellular services underground at TTC stations.

WATCH: TTC Chair Josh Colle and Mayor John Tory announce that cellular service will be introduced to some subway platforms.

The introduction of cellular service follows from the TCONNECT ad-supported Wi-Fi service that TTC customers have been able to use at select downtown stations since 2013. That network is now live on 18 subway station platforms.

“The expansion of wireless capabilities in our transit system will allow TTC riders to be connected underground, enhancing the way we work and do business in our city. This is an example of how the City can bring its operations into the 21st century,” said Toronto mayor John Tory.

TTC chair Josh Colle said the next phase of the underground communications plan will be to build infrastructure that will allow cell service in the tunnels between stations.