Letter Audit Report on Phase II of the Wireless Voice and Data Services in New York City’s Subway System as Provided by Transit Wireless
Letter Audit Report on Phase II of the Wireless Voice and Data Services in New York City’s Subway System as Provided by Transit Wireless
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The objective of this audit was to determine whether the wireless voice and data communication system installed by Transit Wireless (“TW”) within certain New York City subway stations (including platforms, mezzanines, and various points within public access passageways) operates effectively. This audit is the second in a series of audits of the ongoing installation of cellular and wireless services in the New York City subway system.
In 2007, following a request for proposals process, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (“MTA”) Board awarded a license agreement to TW that granted an exclusive license to provide commercial cellular/PCS and Wi-Fi service in 277 underground subway stations. Under the agreement, TW acts as a neutral host, constructing the distributed antenna system within the stations (excluding the tunnels between stations) and sub-licenses rights to use that system to cellular carriers, Wi-Fi providers, and other network users.
TW installs equipment and antennas at each underground station to provide cellular and Wi-Fi coverage throughout public areas. The in-station equipment and antennas are linked by fiber optic cables to TW trunk fiber optic cables, which run through the streets and connect back to a base station hotel (hub) that houses the head-end equipment for TW, the cellular carriers, Wi-Fi providers, and New York City Transit (“NYCT”).
TW installed the wireless network in 47 underground subway stations in Manhattan as part of Phase I (previous Audit Number SZ15-062AL), including major station complexes such as Times Square and Grand Central, and had stated it had installed the wireless network in 29 stations in Queens (the subject of this audit). Phase III is underway and includes stations located mostly in Manhattan. All 277 underground stations in New York City are contractually required to be in service by the end of 2017.
Results
The audit found that the wireless voice and data communication system currently installed by TW within the 29 Phase II subway stations auditors tested (including platforms, mezzanines, and various points within public access passageways) operates as intended. In addition, on January 8, 11 and 26, and February 7 and 23 of this year, auditors revisited the 47 stations tested in Phase I and found these to still be operational. Furthermore, the audit found that there was an immediate Wi-Fi connection. The audit recommended that the MTA, NYCT and TW continue their current plan to provide voice and data service to the remaining 201 underground New York City subway stations.
In its response, NYCT stated that it “acknowledges and accepts the conclusion of the attached draft audit of NYCT’s Wireless Voice and Data Service, which found that the wireless voice and data communications system installed in 29 Phase II underground Queens subway stations operates as intended. The audit also positively notes that the system continues to operate as intended at the 47 stations at which it was previously installed during Phase I. Please note that we also acknowledge the continuation of the New York City Comptroller’s testing of the availability of wireless connections as we continue to install this service at the remaining 201 underground stations.”