Study: Cell Service On The New York Subway Still Sucks

The city’s last great dead zone isn’t going quietly. Updated with comment from MTA.

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Of the major drawbacks to riding the New York City Subway — the body odor, the traces of human waste on the seats, the rodents — perhaps the least intractable is the awful cell service. When Transit Wireless announced that cell and Wi-Fi service would be available at all 277 stations by 2017, it was a sign that one of the last great dead zones was being brought to heel by the forces of convenience.

But not so fast! According to a new study by the Global Wireless Solutions, a mobile benchmarking firm, cell service on the subway is still basically terrible. Over three days in early May, GWS engineers ran mobile benchmarking tests on trains throughout the city, and found that only two stretches of track provided data network access with more than a 50% success rate: the 7 train between Grand Central and Times Square (74%) and the E train from 50th Street to Lexington Ave/53rd Street (52%). Here's the full breakdown:

1. 7 train (Times Square to Grand Central): 74% success rate

2. E train (50th Street to Lexington Ave/53rd Street): 52% success rate

3. 6 train (28th Street to Grand Central): 35% success rate

4. B, D trains (Columbus Circle to Grand Street): 23% success rates

5. 1 train (Columbus Circle to South Ferry): 20% success rate

6. A, C trains (Columbus Circle to Fulton Street): 16% success rates

7.L train (8th Avenue to 1st Avenue): 15% success rate

8. 2, 3 trains (Chambers Street to Wall Street): 14% success rates

9. J, Z trains (Delancey Street to Broad Street): 12% success rates

10. (Tied) E train (Canal Street to World Trade Center): 11% success rate; N, Q, R trains (Lexington Ave/59th St. to South Ferry): 11% success rates

11. F Train (Lafayette Street to East Broadway): 8% success rate

So, for those of you worrying that you might have to work on your commute, take heart. It will be years before you have to put down your John Green paperback and send an email. “Sorry, I was underground” will be a safe excuse for the foreseeable future.

BuzzFeed – Tech

Study: Cell Service On The New York Subway Still Sucks