All carriers to provide TTC services by October 3: ISED

All passengers on the Toronto Transit Commission’s (TTC) subway system must have cellular connectivity, regardless of carrier, next month, announced Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne on Monday. This announcement comes two weeks after the department of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development’s (ISED) consultations ended. Proceedings which aimed to resolve the ongoing network access dispute between Rogers Communications Inc. and other major carriers, including BCE Inc. and Telus Corp. Champagne gave carriers an Oct. 3 deadline to connect to the TTC network. According to ISED, Rogers is to immediately facilitate access to its TTC infrastructure and share its technical information. “Cellular connectivity on the subway is about more than just convenience. It is a critical public safety matter. TTC passengers have waited too long to access cellular services when riding the subway,” said Champagne. While shared access to Rogers’ existing network will be coming over the next three weeks, officials said negotiations regarding access terms and licensing models are to come later, with rates to apply retroactively. All carriers offering service in Toronto are required to establish commercial agreements within the next 100 days, by Dec. 20. According to Rogers spokesperson Sarah Schmidt, the company welcomes ISED’s decision. “This approach reflects what we’ve been proposing all along – to bring 5G services to all riders as quickly as possible,” she said in a statement. Rogers insists it has provided other telecoms with a framework for shared access while Bell claimed Rogers has been intentionally delaying carriers’ access to the TTC. “Bell and Telus have been dragging their heels and the federal government is now forcing them to work with us in earnest to make connectivity possible for all riders. This is good news for Toronto transit riders,” proclaimed the spokesperson. “While we’ve been busy building, they’ve been busy whining. We’ll continue to work around the clock to upgrade and expand the network so all riders can connect anywhere on the subway.” Bell also welcomed the decision. "With the federal government now forcing Rogers to finally work with other carriers, we look forward to providing our customers with underground wireless coverage in the coming weeks," said the company in a statement. ISED put out a timeline for carriers to improve wireless services in the TTC. Once commercial agreements are established, carriers have six months to cover all current stations; two years to cover 80 per cent of existing tunnels; and three years to cover all tunnels. TTC riders with any carrier can expect to have wireless services in all stations and tunnels by December 2026. As part of their collective responsibility to provide wireless services in the TTC, carriers must also commit to cover any new stations and tunnels, said government officials. “Everyone should be able to have cell phone service on the subway, regardless of their carrier. I welcome today’s announcement and invite mobile carriers to work together to quickly deliver the service that Torontonians need and deserve,” said Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, who joined the minister. Carriers that fail to comply with the new conditions will face monetary penalties or suspension or revocation of licences. – Reporting by Phalen Tynes-MacDonald at pcreed@thewirereport.ca and editing by Jenna Cocullo at jcocullo@thewirereport.ca.

All carriers to provide TTC services by October 3: ISED

News | September 11, 2023

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All carriers to provide TTC services by October 3: ISED

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