Free wireless now available in 21 Bronx subway stations

Bronx commuters can now stay connected while they wait for their train at all 21 underground stations in the borough.

The MTA and wirelessofficials announced Thursday inside the 161st Street–Yankee Stadium subway station that wireless service is up and running for the Bronx stations, and an additional 16 in Manhattan.

The MTA and private partners are working to make all 279 underground train stations in the city wireless by mid-2017; 146 stations are up and running so far.

Transit Wireless, the private company that is partnering with the MTA to install the wireless service, also had 25 helpers on hand to let morning commuters know they could connect for free.

“Turn your Wi-Fi, guys!” they remindedpassing commuters.

Michael Lipscomb from the Bronx got some help switching his tablet’s Wi-Fi on and clicking to connect to the Transit Wireless service.

“Now I know I can use it to watch a movie,” Lipscomb said. “I’ve never used this before … I thought you needed a password to connect.”

The wireless also has a safety component, connecting to the help point kiosks in the stations that are lit up with a blue light, and making 911 calls.

The MTA and Transit Wireless estimate 70 million riders a month have access to wireless service in the stations, and more than 4 million users log on per month.

Another 37 stations are expected to be online by mid-2016, including the first stations in Brooklyn. Of the 146 stations with wireless service, all 40 Queens underground stations have broadband and 85in Manhattan.