[February 21, 2014]

Transit Wireless and MTA Project to Bring Wireless to New York City Subway Named Finalist in 2014 Global Mobile Awards

Transit Wireless today announced that its project with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to bring cellular service and Wi-Fi to the New York City subway system has been named one of five finalists for the GSM Association's (GSMA) 19th annual Global Mobile Awards in the Best Mobile Innovations for "Smart Cities" category. The winners will be presented in an afternoon ceremony on Tuesday, February 25, 2014 at the GSMA Mobile World Congress (News - Alert) in Barcelona.

More than 680 submissions were made for 38 awards in eight categories for this year's awards and more than 160 nominees were shortlisted as finalists. More than 175 independent analysts, journalists, academics and subject matter experts throughout the world participated in the judging process.

"We are honored to be nominated for this prestigious award," said William A. Bayne Jr., CEO of Transit Wireless. "Building a sophisticated telecommunications network in a 110 year old subway system is no easy task, but through the hard work and dedication of our partners, the MTA, the New York City Transit Authority, AT&am;T, T-Mobile, Sprint and Verizon (News - Alert) Wireless, we are bringing countless benefits to the subway's patrons and the city at large."

"The MTA's firm commitment to bring our transit system into the 21^st Century also brings a new level of customer convenience and security," said MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas F. Prendergast. "We look forward to our continued partnership with Transit Wireless to make universal connectivity for our customers a reality in the coming years."

The New York City subway system consists of 468 subway stations across four boroughs - 277 of which are underground - and serves an annual ridership of 1.65 billion people. The network offers cell phone and Wi-Fi connectivity, enabling voice and data functions such as phone calls, text messages, emails, music and video streaming and more, all underground, it also enables important services that improve safety and security, such as E911. Employees and first responders also benefit from enhanced communications capabilities in an emergency.

Transit Wireless has an exclusive license to design, deploy and operate the wireless network to provide coverage in the underground stations with the license extending until 2038. Transit Wireless and the carriers are paying 100 percent of the cost of the project, estimated at up to $200 million.

"We strive to provide our customers in New York City, and across the country, with the best possible mobile experience. Participating in this project is another way we are working to provide an enhanced wireless experience wherever our customers may be; in the parks, on the streets, in the high rises or in the subways," said Bill Hogg, senior vice president - Network Planning and Engineering, AT&T (News - Alert) Services Inc.

"T-Mobile customers can now communicate wirelessly while on New York subway platforms - that's a huge benefit to customers in terms of productivity, ease-of-use and safety, and our customers are making good use of this extension of our above-ground service," said Tom Ellefson, regional vice president, Engineering and Operations at T-Mobile (News - Alert).

"We are proud to support the Transit Wireless project. It delivers to Sprint customers a great connected experience on the busiest rapid rail transport system in the country," said Karen Paletta, regional vice president of Sprint. "New York City is one of the greatest cities in the world and the Transit Wireless project - which brings wireless voice and data services to all 277 of New York City's underground subway platforms - will only help sustain New York's greatness."

To quickly find stations that have wireless service on-the-go, please visit Transit Wireless' mobile-friendly website at www.NYCSubwayWireless.com.

Follow Transit Wireless on Twitter (News - Alert) @TransitWireless and on Facebook at facebook.com/TransitWireless.

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