A whole subway ride without losing a phone call. Though it’s a short one, it’s already happening on the Times Square shuttle.

“Cell connectivity is part of having a truly 21st century system,” MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said at a press conference at the Times Square station Wednesday. “And we’re going to be supporting the 12 million people a year who use the shuttle.”

What You Need To Know

  • The L train tunnel under the East River was the first tunnel to have 5G connectivity

  • Boldyn Networks, which provided Wi-Fi in stations, is doing the $600 million in work with no taxpayer money

  • 5G will next come to the entire G train, the 4 and 5 train tunnel between Brooklyn and Manhattan, and the Lexington Avenue line between Grand Central and 161st Street

The shuttle doesn’t run overnight, so the work to put the equipment in was made easier.

It was done by Boldyn Networks. It’s in addition to 5G in the L train tunnel under the East River under an agreement that will bring 5G to all 418 track miles of subway tunnels. It's also a $600 million investment from the company.

The major wireless carriers in turn pay Boldyn Networks.

“There is no cost to the MTA, there is no public money and we’re excited about that,” Jamie Torres-Springer, president of MTA Construction and Development, said. “It’s a great way to make improvements in the system.”

It will help first responders better communicate, and riders say they already appreciate the benefits.

“I think it’s a good thing too because I’m also like an influencer on TikTok,” rider Christi Moore said. “So I get to watch videos. I get to edit my videos. I get to upload my videos all while being on the train.”

“A lot of video conference calls so that would work just perfectly for me, the Skype, the group, the Microsoft,” Manhattan resident Orlando Arriola said. “So yeah, much more convenient.”

The MTA realizes it’s not all about productivity.

“We also have to recognize a lot of people who want to play Candy Crush,” Lieber said.

But what about the problem of those who may put the phone on speaker or stream their movies without headphones?

“Don’t be that guy,” Lieber said.

“I got my headphones on so I can drown out everybody else,” rider Christi Moore said.

The next phases include the G train, which had fiber optic cable installed during signal upgrades. The 4 and 5 train tunnel between Manhattan and Brooklyn will get 5G by mid-2025. That's also when work will begin to bring it to the Lexington Avenue line between Grand Central and 161st Street.