Toronto mayoral candidate Ana Bailão has promised to deliver mobile phone service to the TTC if elected.
“We’d like cell service on the TTC and we would have liked it yesterday,” tweeted Bailão on Thursday. “TTC riders shouldn’t have to carry their breath and wait for his or her practice to go above floor to make use of TTC security apps and text-a-tip traces.”
She’s referring to a just lately launched TTC quantity, 647-496-1940, by which travellers can report security issues through textual content, in addition to the Protected TTC cell app, which provides related performance.
Because it stands, although, underground cellphone service is sort of fully unavailable within the TTC regardless of the required infrastructure being in place since 2015. Whereas all 75 TTC stations are able to supporting speak, textual content and information expertise, Freedom Cell is the one service that has signed a licensing settlement to allow service.
In latest months, calls have elevated for Bell, Rogers and Telus — the so-called service “Massive 3” — to comply with Freedom’s go well with amid an increase in violence on the TTC. Based on the transit company’s personal information, violence on its autos rose by 46 p.c in 2022 from the 12 months prior. Town can also be reeling from the March twenty fifth homicide of 16-year-old Gabriel Magalhaes, who was fatally stabbed at Keele Station in what police are calling an “unprovoked” assault.
Whereas metropolis officers debate what responses must be taken to handle the violence, some, together with Bailão, are pushing for cellphone service. It must be famous, nevertheless, that Bailão arguably raises her personal security issues. In 2013, she admitted to drunk driving the 12 months prior, though she solely ended up receiving a 12-month licence suspension and high quality.
For now, although, the TTC service problem is clearly bigger than Bailão. BAI Communications, Inc., the corporate that put in the infrastructure within the TTC system, has been calling on the Massive 3 to signal an settlement to open up their networks to underground transit use. On social media, Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie additionally shared that Metropolis Council “name on all cellphone suppliers to assist our efforts to maintain the Toronto Transit Fee secure and guarantee cell service for all cellphones is out there throughout our subway system as quickly as attainable.”
It stays to be seen if and once they may come round, with or with out mayoral involvement.
Picture credit score: Shutterstock
By way of: CityNews
