Rogers unveils 1st phase of cell service on TTC subways, improved 911 access for all riders

Rogers Communications has launched the first phase of new 5G wireless services in parts of the TTC subway system on Wednesday, bringing with it more reliable access to 911.

As of early Wednesday, Rogers customers will have full 5G capabilities in all the stations and tunnels of the ‘lower-U’ of the subway system (St. George south to Union, north to Bloor-Yonge and west to St. George).

Also, stations between Keele and Castle Frank, plus Spadina and Dupont, will have 5G service at platform level and in station corridors.

When it comes to requests from TTC passengers, staff with the agency said cell service has been at the top of the list.

“The demand has definitely been there. The request has been there. We’ve heard our customers loud and clear,” Fort Monaco, the chief of operations and infrastructure with the TTC, said.

However, getting to this point has been a complicated process.

Typically between 2 and 5 a.m. every day over the past several months when trains weren’t running, crews used work cars to move through the system and install a vast network of cables and antennas to bring service down below.

“Probably doing it around 500 to 600, 800 feet a night depending on the type of cable it also depends on the infrastructure,” Monaco estimated.

“It’s not just a matter of running a bunch of equipment in a tunnel. Need to consider the clearance available so that you can safely on trains. The other thing is we’ve also got asbestos in the tunnels, and asbestos needs to be cleaned well prior to the work actually proceeding.”

A map showing the first phase of 5G service by Rogers in the TTC subway system. HANDOUT

This latest development came after Rogers Communications, the parent company of CityNews, bought BAI Canada in April. That company provided wi-fi services on TTC subway platforms as well as limited cellular service for Freedom Mobile customers. Rogers also acquired the rights to fix and expand the system.

Ron McKenzie, the chief technology and information officer for Rogers, said his crews have done a major overhaul of signal capacity. Once fully done, executives said the signal should be strong enough to stream a movie end to end on the subway system.

“Although there have been there have been some options available, it really was a legacy 3G, early 4G system,” McKenzie said.

“The way to think about this is it was a single-lane road and we’ve now turned it into a multi-lane highway to deliver more capacity and coverage.”

While full 5G capabilities are just for Rogers customers, there will be more reliable 911 service in the subway system for all wireless users.

“911 will be available for any device on any operators network — always available that’s key — and so that no matter what network you’re on, you’ll always be able to make a 911 call,” McKenzie said.

For months, Bell and Telus officials criticized Rogers for having the rights to build out a 5G system and argued all companies should be building it in concert.

In a report to the federal government earlier in August as part of consultations on full wireless access in the TTC subway system, Rogers staff argued they should be able to proceed with launching the network even before a deal can be reached with other companies.

Speaking with reporters at the federal cabinet retreat in Prince Edward Island, Champagne skirted questions of whether he was concerned Rogers had jumped the gun ahead of his eventual ruling in the consultation process. That decision is expected after an Aug. 28 deadline for the carriers to reply to each other’s submissions.

Champagne said he has a number of unspecified “tools in the toolbox” under the Telecommunications Act to ensure wireless coverage is made available to all TTC riders.

“I can assure you that I’m going to take decisive action to make sure that we force the different networks (carriers) to be able to offer coverage to the users,” he said.

“We want all — Telus, Rogers and Bell — to be able to offer coverage in the subway system in Toronto because it should not depend (on) who’s your provider in order to be able to access 911, or being able to call your mother if you’re going to be late or if there’s any safety issue.”

In a statement released on Wednesday, Bell spokesperson Ellen Murphy said Rogers “clearly continues to seek to advantage itself at the expense of Toronto residents and is showing brazen disregard for the ongoing consultation led by (Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne).”

“Rogers’ decision also goes against the recommendation of many community groups like the Women Abuse Council of Toronto, CodeRed TO, Toronto YWCA and Toronto Police Service, all of whom advocate that wireless connectivity on the TTC is a public safety issue and needs to be available to everyone as soon as possible, regardless of carrier,” Murphy said.

RELATED: Rogers proposes framework to reach agreements with all carriers for TTC cell service

Telus spokesperson Richard Gilhooley said the company “is outraged that Rogers has restricted access to Internet connectivity on the TTC.”

“The TTC is a public service paid for by the people of Toronto, and everyone should have equal access to connectivity and the added safety it provides,” he said in a statement.

“Rogers has demonstrated a complete lack of co-operation on access for all riders, refusing to meet with other carriers or grant roaming access.”

Rogers spokesperson Cam Gordon said the company takes issue with both companies.

“Bell and Telus have been playing games instead of negotiating on behalf of their customers after showing no real interest for over 10 years in providing wireless services or raising public safety concerns about the limited coverage in the TTC,” he said in a statement.

“We continue to respectfully participate in the federal government’s consultation process.”

McKenzie said there is room for other telecommunications companies.

“The network is now fully capable of supporting multi-operator and the systems available if the other operators wish to join they can plug in their radios and deliver services on the existing infrastructure that we’ve now upgraded,” he said.

When asked about the lack of a public, firm timeline for when other carriers will be onboard, McKenzie said, “It’s welcomed the other operators join.”

Shelagh Pizey-Allen, executive director of the advocacy group TTCriders, said she doesn’t buy Rogers’ argument.

“It’s hard to take those comments at face value when they have such a clear financial interest in offering service to their customers first,” she said.

“It’s not fair for some people to not have access to cell service. It’s a safety issue. It’s an accessibility issue. What’s important now is that everyone gets access to the network, no matter who their provider is.”

As for what’s next, executives said they hope 5G service will be available at all station platforms by the end of 2023. They said while they hope to move as quickly as possible to bring 5G capabilities to the remaining 75 per cent of tunnels without coverage, there isn’t a firm timeframe for it yet.

With files from The Canadian Press