Customers who use Cricket wireless services are now able to communicate throughout the CTA's Red and Blue line subways. Cricket Communications, Inc. has signed a 10-year agreement to lease CTA’s wireless communications infrastructure in the subways. CTA will receive $22,250 per month from Cricket for the lease.
Cricket recently completed the installation and testing of its base equipment—comprised of amplifiers, transmitters and receivers—to the CTA wireless infrastructure.
In 2005, CTA completed the installation of technology to enhance CTA’s existing two-way radio system and improve subway communications options for CTA, the Chicago Police Department and Chicago Fire Department in the Red and Blue line subways.
The improved telecommunications system also laid the groundwork for the agency to generate additional revenue by leasing its wireless infrastructure for commercial service to allow the use of wireless devices, such as cell phones, text messaging and wireless Internet modems throughout the 11.4 mile subway system.
Cricket joins Verizon Wireless and U.S. Cellular as the current wireless service providers in CTA's subway system. U.S. Cellular became the first wireless provider to lease use of the infrastructure in July 2006, while Verizon Wireless signed on in August 2008.
CTA continues to work to add additional service providers to the system. As more wireless service providers contract with CTA to use the infrastructure to provide service, more customers will be able to use their wireless devices.
# # #