Sprint To Provide Wireless Coverage In New York Subway Stations Starting 2014

In 2014, Sprint will become the third major wireless carrier in the US to expand its voice and data coverage to the New York City subway system's underground stations.

Starting early next year, Sprint will have service in 36 stations in the Midtown and Chelsea neighborhoods, according to a statement. The company signed a deal with Transit Wireless LLC for the project. But that's just the first phase.

For its second phase, 40 stations in Manhattan (including Grand Central Station, 34th St. Herald Square, and Bryant Park) and Queens will get hooked up. The network will allow riders to talk on the phone, text message, email, browse the Web, and connect to free Wi-Fi, all while underground.

Eventually, Sprint plans to expand to all 277 underground stations in the entire NYC subway system, including those located outside of Manhattan, though it hasn't yet provided a timeline for when that will happen.

"As we build out our new network, adding the vast underground New York City subway system brings a whole new level of connectivity to our customers, whether they're consumers, public safety representatives, first responders, or city workers," Greg O'Connor, vice president of engineering at Sprint, said in a statement. "We look forward to providing an enjoyable connected experience for the 1.65 billion visitors and straphangers who ride the NYC subway annually."

AT&T and T-Mobile reached deals in 2010 to cover the subway stops. Verizon Wireless, the nation's largest mobile-phone company, is the only major U.S. carrier that has yet to announce it will do the same.