Cablevision vying for public access WiFi contracts

Cablevision is vying for a contract with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to outfit commuter trains and stations with WiFi.

The MSO has submitted a response to the MTA's "Request for Expression of Interest for Wireless Broadband Services in Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and Metro-North Railroad Trains and Stations," saying its Optimum WiFi service--which it offers for free to its cable broadband subscribers in parts of New York and New Jersey--should be considered as the wireless broadband solution for the railroad system.

Cablevision has already made Optimum WiFi available to 96 percent of LIRR and Metro North railroad platforms and parking lots in it service areas. The cable company reported users have accessed the web via their WiFi network more than 4 million times since launching the service last September.

Cablevision has already been competing for public access WiFi contracts. It was recently awarded a contract to provide WiFi at Long Island's MacArthur Airport, were non-Cablevision customers also have access to the service.

"As one of the nation's leading telecommunications providers and a well-established local company that has already made a significant commitment to deploying Optimum WiFi across the New York metropolitan area, Cablevision is uniquely positioned to quickly and seamlessly deliver a high-quality WiFi network across the LIRR and Metro North railroad system," said Cablevision senior vice president of wireless product development Kevin Curran in a statement. "We have delivered a proposal that would provide significant benefits to all parties, and are excited and encouraged by the prospect of providing Optimum WiFi service to the MTA and its ridership. We look forward to participating in a process that will result in the availability of fast and reliable WiFi service on the railroads."

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- check out Multichannel News [1]

Related articles:
Cablevision: Broadband customers used WiFi more than 2 million times [2]
WiFi becoming valuable customer retention tool [3]
Cablevision's answer to WiMAX [4]: WiFi