Last year when cellphone service first started popping up in Manhattan we learned that 30 other stations were set to get service at some point this year. And now we have a better sense of when. Just in time for the summer heat, the Times Square subway station is going to be an even noisier place.
Well, in theory. In practice we've so far found New Yorkers to be pretty good about not abusing their new found phone service by mostly using it for data purposes (this is helped by the fact that phones still don't work in the tunnels—whew!). According to Transit Wireless, which brings service to AT&T and T-Mobile subscribers underground (with deals in the works with Verizon), the company hopes to start construction on the additional station cell units in April for a launch in the summer. Stations will in theory come on in batches of five or six beginning in July or August.
Interestingly, cell service isn't the only thing Transit Wireless is offering. They've also got plans in "the next several weeks" to bring free wi-fi access (paid for through sponsorships) to six unspecified stations!
For a refresher, below are the stations next set to get service. Are you cool with that? Or are you frustrated enough with chatty Cathys on the subway?
5 Av (N)(Q)(R)
7 Av (B)(D)(E)
18 St (1)
23 St (1)
23 St (N)(R)
28 St (1)
28 St (N)(R)
34 St-Herald Sq (B)(D)(F)(M)
34 St-Herald Sq (N)(Q)(R)
47-50 Sts (B)(D)(F)(M)
49 St (N)(Q)(R)
50 St (1)
50 St (C)(E)
57 St (N)(Q)(R)
57 St (F)
59 St-Columbus Circle (1)
59 St-Columbus Circle (A)(C)(B)(D)
66 St (1)
72 St (1)(2)(3)
72 St (B)(C)
79 St (1)
81 St (B)(C)
86 St (1)
86 St (B)(C)
96 St (1)(2)(3)
96 St (B)(C)
Times Sq-42 St (1)(2)(3)
Times Sq-42 St (7)
Times Sq-42 St (A)(C)(E)
Times Sq-42 St (N)(Q)(R)
Times Sq-42 St (S)
