It Just Got Much Easier to Make Phone Calls in NYC Subways

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Image: Chris Hondros/Getty Images

By Samantha Murphy Kelly2014-01-29 17:55:51 UTC

Huge news for Verizon customers in New York City: You can now make and receive calls, texts and access the Internet at 35 subway stations throughout the city.

Verizon announced on Tuesday that it will bring its voice, 3G and 4G LTE data services underground to various New York City subway stations.

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The initiative to enable subway systems with Wi-Fi rolled out last year, and AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint and Verizon signed on. But AT&T and T-Mobile were the only two providers that were available for access until now. Tuesday marked Verizon's official subway debut; Sprint, it's your move next.

The news is not only important for convenience, but also for security. When Verizon customers dial 911, the dispatcher will automatically know if that call is coming from underground and be able to detect the exact platform from which the call was made.

Verizon Wireless says it has invested more than $4.5 billion across the New York City region since 2000. Transit Wireless, which was formed to work with the Metropolitan Transit Authority's (MTA) requirement to to bring cell service and Wi-Fi to subway stations, has also experienced growth over the years.

“The build-out of the Transit Wireless network continues to progress on schedule, as we add additional carriers like Verizon Wireless and begin work on Phase Two of the project to bring service to 40 additional stations, including Grand Central Station in Manhattan, as well as all underground stations throughout Queens,” William A. Bayne Jr., CEO of Transit Wireless, said in a statement. “Our network not only provides an important security improvement to riders, but also serves as the backbone for future innovations throughout the subway system.”

The stations are largely on the west side of Manhattan, from 23rd Street to 96th Street, including the Times Square, Herald Square, Rockefeller Center, Lincoln Center and Columbus Circle stations.

MarketWatch has a the full list of stations.

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Topics: Mobile, new york city, Tech, Travel & Leisure, U.S., verizon, Wireless