Will cable follow AT&T and T-Mobile to New York City subways with WiFi?

AT&T (NYSE: T) and T-Mobile struck a deal with New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority to launch wireless phone service throughout the city's vast subway system, beginning with six subway stations.

While mobile phone service has been available on underground transportation systems in Washington, D.C. and other cities for years, New Yorkers have never been able to talk on their cell phones once they enter underground stations. With the boom in smartphones and tablets capable of delivering email, video and other Web content to subscribers, there has been a bigger demand for access to mobile networks at stations in New York's subways.

Top cable MSOs Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA), Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC) and Cablevision (NYSE: CVC) have built WiFi hotspots at New Jersey Transit and Long Island Rail Road stations, but the companies, which have teamed up to allow subscribers to access each other's networks, haven't yet attempted to offer WiFi access at New York City subway stations.

Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Cablevision have submitted proposals to New Jersey Transit and the MTA that would allow them to place WiFi transmitters on actual trains in New Jersey, Long Island, and Metro North trains that serve New York suburbs. With rival AT&T looking to offer mobile service in New York City subways, look for the cable MSOs to eventually attempt to wire stations and trains as well.

For more:
- see the news release

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