MONTRÉAL, July 13, 2017 /CNW
Telbec/ - The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) never stops
working to improve its service. With its partners TELUS (acting as
the project integrator), Bell, Rogers and Vidéotron, the STM is
proud to announce that fully half of the métro network is now
connected to the mobile network, with the blue line's Acadie
station coming online today. This brings the total number of
connected stations to 34 out of 68, and the project is being rolled
out on schedule.
Connected stations
Montréal's métro passengers will now have complete mobile
connectivity between the Côte-Vertu and Mont-Royal stations on the
orange line, between Beaudry and Lionel-Groulx on the line, between
Snowdon and Acadie on the blue line, and on the entire yellow
line.
Deployment efforts for the second half of 2017 will be
concentrated on stations to the north of Mont-Royal and will complete the blue line up
to Jean-Talon. Work will be done to connect the orange line
stations north of Jean-Talon in 2018.
This makes Montréal one of the few cities in the world with an
underground system plugged into an LTE mobile network, not only in
the cars but also in the tunnels and stations. Passengers can use
their devices to surf the web, view videos, stay connected with
e-mails, and send and receive calls and text messages. Mobile
connectivity in the métro will also allow people to plan their
trips more effectively, as they will be able to check bus schedules
and electronic information systems that the STM provides.
"The STM has made a clear commitment to improving the customer
experience, and deploying the mobile network in the métro is a
great example of that," states Philippe
Schnobb, Chairman of the STM. "It will make the ride so much
more pleasant. I want to applaud the work and the cooperation of
our partners, Bell, Rogers, TELUS and Vidéotron, who have led this
project so skillfully and introduced the Montréal métro into the
select club of plugged-in underground transportation networks."
Objective 2020: complete connectivity
Started in 2014, the project is right on schedule, and by 2020, all
of the métro's 71 km and 68 stations should be covered. Deployment
of the mobile network in the métro has been made possible by an
investment of close to $50 million,
jointly assumed by Bell, Rogers, TELUS and Vidéotron.
Quotes from partners
"Ultra-fast networks are an
essential part of Montréal's smart city strategy, and Bell is proud
to share its expertise in rolling out world-class wireless services
in the Montréal métro," said Martine
Turcotte, Bell's Vice Chair, Québec. "Québec has the best
wireless technology in the world, and STM commuters can now access
its power in a fast-growing footprint throughout the underground
network."
"This joint initiative is another way for us to invest in making
Montréal a connected city that provides both residents and visitors
with the best service possible," affirms Fadel Chbihna, Senior VP
of Customer Care at Rogers. "We are proud of our work together over
the past few years. That is what enabled us to achieve this key
milestone. We can now focus with even more determination on
bringing the remaining section on line."
"As the integrator of the project to design and implement the
wireless communications network, TELUS is proud to showcase its
expertise in this innovative project for our metropolis," states
François Gratton, Executive Vice-President and President, Business
Solutions East and TELUS Québec. "Thanks to our team's commitment
and devotion, this ambitious project will be completed on time and
within budget. Together with the STM and our partners, we look
forward to the next step as we provide all public transit customers
with an unparalleled mobile service."
"We are so proud to be able to announce today that 50% of the
STM stations are connected," adds Serge
Legris, Vice President and Chief Technology Planning Officer
at Vidéotron. "Determined to make life easier for its clients and
giving them the best possible experience, Vidéotron is happy to
contribute to connecting the metro. This ambitious joint project
now covers half the stations and will continue to be rolled out at
a steady pace in the years to come, another indication of how
important it is for the metropolis and the millions of commuters
who use it every year."
Visual contents
To view and download pictures and
videos of the work performed at night in the métro tunnels, visit
the STM's press room : http://www.stm.info/en/press
SOURCE Société de transport de Montréal