JOIN USThe days when your mobile signal dropped as you entered the Metro underground stations will be over soon as telecom service providers are set to get the necessary facilities to extend their network to the section.
The American Tower Corporation, which has won the contract for creating mobile network infrastructure in the underground section, has completed over half of the work. “Work on installing leaky feeder cables, which allow radio frequency signals to escape, will get over in the underground section in 15 days,” said A S Shankar, Chief Engineer (Signalling and Telecommunication), Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL). “Mobile service providers have to enter into agreement with the ATC to use the facility.”
The chief engineer noted that Reliance Jio had been providing the service, including 4G, at Central College and Vidhana Soudha Metro stations on the east-west line.
“The network will be available at Majestic, Bengaluru City railway station and Cubbon Park Metro stations, too,” he added.
Shankar said the underground section of the north-south line would have the mobile network facility before inauguration. Many networks are available in the tunnel section between Majestic and Sampige Road stations. There are eight underground stations under Phase 1.
The leaky feeder cable is essentially a cable carrying radio frequency signals whose insulation is removed at select places. The exposed wire will work like an antenna allowing mobile phones to send and receive information. The ATC will also provide infrastructure for Wi-Fi network in the underground section. “Providing free Wi-Fi in the underground section is left to mobile service providers. The BMRCL won’t interfere in the matter,” the chief engineer said.