ChicagoCTAChicago Transit Authority

4G Wireless Service Coming To CTA Subways In Chicago

4G Wireless Service Coming To CTA Subways
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Good news, smartphone-using CTA commuters!

The city is planning on Thursday to announce details of its plan for a major wireless upgrade the underground CTA lines.

DNAinfo Chicago reports the transit agency is planning to outfit all 12 miles of the city's underground lines with 4G service.

The city is now accepting proposals from vendors interested in upgrading the system's existing underground wireless infrastructure, which currently dates back to 2005, according to CBS Chicago, and is leased to six major service providers.

The project is being paid for by the CTA and no timetable has yet been announced.

The CTA revealed earlier this year it was looking into upgrading wireless service underground on the Red and Blue Line and was reaching out to wireless telecommunication companies to determine the particulars of the plan.

“To be a world-class city, Chicago must have a world-class infrastructure, so that people can get around the city efficiently, safely, and productively," Mayor Rahm Emanuel said of the planned upgrade in April.

Photo by Bill Ward's Brickpile via Flickr.

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Before You Go

Around Town On The CTA
The CTA Around Town(01 of17)
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CTA's most connected hub at Lake St. in the Loop. (credit:Alamy)
The CTA Around Town(02 of17)
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Chicago's elevated tracks. (credit:Alamy)
The CTA Around Town(03 of17)
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Faces on the CTA. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5be21db3e4b0aeaf24c628e5" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="10" data-vars-position-in-unit="14">Flickr</a>:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/56991480@N05/8436323013" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="ZL-Photography" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5be21db3e4b0aeaf24c628e5" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/photos/56991480@N05/8436323013" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="11" data-vars-position-in-unit="15">ZL-Photography</a>)
The CTA Around Town(04 of17)
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CTA Brown Line platform. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5be21db3e4b0aeaf24c628e5" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="8" data-vars-position-in-unit="12">Flickr</a>:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/32693718@N07/8542719471" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="davidwilson1949" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5be21db3e4b0aeaf24c628e5" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/photos/32693718@N07/8542719471" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="9" data-vars-position-in-unit="13">davidwilson1949</a>)
The CTA Around Town(05 of17)
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Rare In-service train operates through the Old State St. Subway portal at 13th St. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5be21db3e4b0aeaf24c628e5" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="6" data-vars-position-in-unit="10">Flickr</a>:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/90504494@N00/8539509095" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="railsr4me" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5be21db3e4b0aeaf24c628e5" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/photos/90504494@N00/8539509095" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="7" data-vars-position-in-unit="11">railsr4me</a>)
The CTA Around Town(06 of17)
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Lake St. CTA station in the Loop. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5be21db3e4b0aeaf24c628e5" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="4" data-vars-position-in-unit="8">Flickr</a>:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/32693718@N07/8543809410" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="davidwilson1949" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5be21db3e4b0aeaf24c628e5" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/photos/32693718@N07/8543809410" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="5" data-vars-position-in-unit="9">davidwilson1949</a>)
The CTA Around Town(07 of17)
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The "L" from downtown. (credit:Alamy)
The CTA Around Town(08 of17)
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CTA rapid transit. (credit:Alamy)
The CTA Around Town(09 of17)
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An O'Hare-bound Blue Line? (credit:Alamy)
The CTA Around Town(10 of17)
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A sun-lit CTA train. (credit:Alamy)
The CTA Around Town(11 of17)
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CTA running express. (credit:Alamy)
The CTA Around Town(12 of17)
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In the Loop. (credit:Alamy)
The CTA Around Town(13 of17)
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The CTA Green Line passing through the Loop. (credit:Alamy)
The CTA Around Town(14 of17)
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CTA passing by the CNA Center. (credit:Alamy)
The CTA Around Town(15 of17)
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CTA in the shade. (credit:Alamy)
The CTA Around Town(16 of17)
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CTA Bus Tracker and Canal and Adams. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5be21db3e4b0aeaf24c628e5" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="2" data-vars-position-in-unit="6">Flickr</a>:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/32693718@N07/8433088361" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="davidwilson1949" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5be21db3e4b0aeaf24c628e5" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/photos/32693718@N07/8433088361" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="3" data-vars-position-in-unit="7">davidwilson1949</a>)
The CTA Around Town(17 of17)
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Faces on the CTA. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5be21db3e4b0aeaf24c628e5" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="0" data-vars-position-in-unit="4">Flickr</a>:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/56991480@N05/8437417498" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="ZL-Photography" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5be21db3e4b0aeaf24c628e5" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/photos/56991480@N05/8437417498" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="1" data-vars-position-in-unit="5">ZL-Photography</a>)
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