Edmonton closer to bringing cell service to the underground LRT | Daily Hive

Edmonton is one step closer to bringing full cell service to the underground LRT

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Edmonton is one step closer to bringing cellphone service to the underground portion of its LRT system, but riders will still have to wait a little longer before they can get full bars below ground.

Last November, we told you the City was working on bringing cell coverage underground to make commuting safer and a lot more convenient.

At the time, Edmonton Transit Service (ETS) said it was prepping a 2025 pilot project after completing preliminary signal testing in the tunnels. Until things were ready to go, riders were told to stick with Open City WiFi on the platforms.

So, we caught up with ETS to find out what has actually happened since.

In January 2025, the City Council approved a deal with Telus to design and install a permanent cellular network in all seven underground stations and connecting tunnels. The network being installed is built for 5G and emerging tech, and will eventually work with all major carriers.

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The City set aside $4.7 million for this project in the Fall 2023 Capital Budget. The move to involve Telus also skips the long, expensive process of building the system alone, which the City says would have slowed things down and cost more in the long run.

So now that we’re into the final few months of the year, ETS says crews have spent 2025 working on the design and early construction for the system. Jesse Isaac, director of technical services at Edmonton Transit Service, said the equipment that will eventually bring cellphone service underground is already being installed in partnership with Telus.

But when can we actually use it?

If all goes to plan, Isaac says riders should start to see full cellphone service underground by the end of 2026. “Riders will be notified of the service when we get closer to the launch date,” Isaac said.

So until then, that Open City WiFi will have to do. It at least allows us to check emails or download a couple of songs before losing service, but it’ll feel pretty nice to be fully connected underground!