TORONTO – Rogers said Monday night it has entered into an agreement to acquire the Canadian operations of BAI Communications, which has the exclusive rights to build the Toronto Transit Commission’s wireless network.
Rogers said it will leverage the acquisition, expected to close in the next two weeks, to increase capability of the 3G and 4G network and accelerate the deployment of 5G connectivity within two years and push to get 911 services across more of the underground system.
“Today, TTC users with any mobile provider can call 911 only where the cellular network exists – on station platforms, concourses, and approximately 25% of the tunnels,” Rogers said in a press release. “Rogers will work to quickly address gaps in the busiest and most critical sections of the subway system.”
The 5G network is expected to deliver mobile voice and data services in all 75 stations and nearly 80 kilometres of the subway system, Rogers said.
The company said it will work with the TTC on a “phased deployment plan, including network design, architecture and rollout logistics, for both network improvements and expansion in the stations, concourses and in all of the subway tunnels.”
In a statement on Twitter, the TTC media relations account said it is “pleased” with the deal and the commission is “working with Rogers to finalize the terms of a new contract that will facilitate their multi-year network expansion plan.”
BAI was granted a 20-year, $25-million contract in 2012 to build the network, with only Freedom – now owned by Quebecor’s Videotron – signing on to connect to it.
The deal comes after a string of assaults and deaths in recent months on the country’s busiest transit system and subsequent calls on the largest telecommunications companies to get a deal done with BAI to drive more connectivity.
