New spectrum licence conditions mean cellphone carriers will need to ensure cellular connectivity for all TTC riders in the coming weeks
Today the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, announced new spectrum licence conditions which will require carriers to provide all passengers on Toronto's subway system with access to cellular connectivity no later than October 3, 2023.
The Minister made the announcement alongside Olivia Chow, Mayor of Toronto, in the presence of several Toronto-area members of Parliament.
The new licence conditions are effective immediately and require all mobile carriers currently operating in Toronto to:
- provide equal-quality services to all Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) subway riders by October 3, 2023;
- quickly begin work to expand existing network coverage in order to provide full voice, text and data services throughout the TTC subway system within ambitious and specific timeframes; and
- provide service in all future stations and tunnels at the same time as they are made operational by the TTC.
Should mobile carriers fail to meet these conditions, the Minister will take action as appropriate. This could include imposing monetary penalties or suspending or revoking a carrier's spectrum licence.
Canadians expect and deserve reliable telecommunications services-and in particular, access to emergency services when riding public transit. This is why the Government of Canada is taking action to require all carriers on Toronto's subway system to provide access to cellular connectivity as soon as possible.
