Metro On Track To Expand Cell Service Friday

WASHINGTON (AP/WUSA) -- More cell phone users will be able to get service in the Metro starting Friday.

A new wireless network will provide service to customers of Verizon Wireless, Sprint Nextel, AT&T and T-Mobile.

Previously, only Verizon Wireless customers had service in the subway system, along with Sprint phones that could roam onto the Verizon network. Back in the early 90's, Metro struck a deal with the company to build towers in exchange for emergency communications.

Calvin Holly is a bus operator who sees the frustration among other cell phone users everyday.

"Their calls drop and they're like, I can't wait to get upstairs and get off this train," he said. "Verizon users get great service down here. They love it, and they rub it in our faces every chance they get."

Metro Spokesperson Steven Taubenkibel says the transit agency is still on track to open the new network on Friday at 20 of the transit system's busiest stations.

The following stations will be affected: Ballston, Bethesda, Columbia Heights, Crystal City, Dupont Circle, Farragut North, Farragut West, Federal Triangle SW, Foggy Bottom-GWU, Friendship Heights, Gallery Place-Chinatown, Judiciary Square, L'Enfant Plaza, McPherson Square, Metro Center, Pentagon, Pentagon City, Rosslyn, Smithsonian and Union Station.

Metro is adding the service as part of an agreement with Congress to secure $1.5 billion in federal funding over 10 years. It's required to have cell service throughout the entire system -- including in the tunnels between stations -- by October 2012.