RailwayAge: Transit Wireless, a joint venture of four companies, has agreed to pay MTA New York City Transit at least $46.8 million over a 10-year period in return for the right to wire the system's 277 underground station platforms and connecting passages (though not subway cars) for cellphone use. The MTA board is expected to approve the proposal at a meeting next week. MTA sources said lower offers were made by American Tower and by a consortium including Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel.
It will cost Transit Wireless $150 million to $200 million to install the wireless system, which it will pass on to its subway-rider customers. Six downtown Manhattan stations will be initially equipped, starting about two years from now; once the system has proved itself the contractor will have four more years to equip the remaining areas.
Companies in the Transit Wireless joint venture are Nab Construction, Q-Wireless, Dianet Communications, and Transit Technologies.
It will cost Transit Wireless $150 million to $200 million to install the wireless system, which it will pass on to its subway-rider customers. Six downtown Manhattan stations will be initially equipped, starting about two years from now; once the system has proved itself the contractor will have four more years to equip the remaining areas.
Companies in the Transit Wireless joint venture are Nab Construction, Q-Wireless, Dianet Communications, and Transit Technologies.
