The Metropolitan Transit Authority has long been planning to bring cell phone and WiFi service to New York City subways.

The company chosen to bring the service underground is Transit Wireless. They’re expected to have all stations wired by 2016.

While the deal includes subway stations, commuters won’t receive signal in tunnels.

AT&T and T-Mobile signed 10-year contracts to deliver service to the system. Those companies will pay a fee to Transit Wireless, which will share profits – an estimated $30 million over 10 years – with the MTA.

According to Transportation Nation, a subsidiary of WNYC, WiFi will be up and running at 14th street and 6th Avenue, 14th street and 8th Avenue and 23rd street and 8th Avenue C/E stations by the end of the year.

Transportation Nation also reports the MTA is also planning WiFi and cell phone service in the Metro-North commuter tunnel between 97th Street and Grand Central Terminal. No word on when that will be up and running, though.

(Source: WCBSTV)