Stuck on the Evergreen extension with no Wi-Fi?
That could soon change with an announcement today, Wednesday, that TransLink will be rolling out free Wi-Fi on SkyTrain and buses beginning in 2020.
TransLink and Shaw Communications Inc. are working on a system design and plan to run trials in 2019, with roll out starting in 2020 on SkyTrain and buses and the entire network to be completed by 2025.
Transit customers don’t need to be Shaw customers to be able to use the WiFi.
In his announcement, TransLink CEO Kevin Desmond said the service will be provided at no cost to customers and taxpayers. Under and agreement, Shaw will install and operate the Wi-Fi system, a similar agreement that has been in place since 2016 in SeaBus terminals and SeaBus ferries.
Desmond said providing Wi-Fi is one of the most frequent customer requests.
“We’re proud to be the first transit authority in Canada to offer this free Wi-Fi service and we’re doing it at no cost to our customers or taxpayers,” he stated in a press release.
TransLink intends to eventually provide Wi-Fi on all modes, including HandyDART, West Coast Express and community shuttle buses.
This isn’t the first deal with a telecom provider to enhance cellphone connectivity on transit.
In 2017, Rogers installed infrastructure in the tunnel on the Evergreen extension and all tunnels along the SkyTrain route so Fido and Rogers customers wouldn’t lose LTE and voice access.
