Ottawa’s Confederation Line will offer Wi-Fi and cellular connection through partnership with TELUS
Riders on the O-Train Confederation Line will enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi and cellular service thanks to partnership with TELUS Communications Inc. that ensures customers stay connected between stations and in tunnels.
“Thanks to a great partnership with TELUS, I am pleased to announce free Wi-Fi in our downtown, underground light-rail transit stations and cellular service across the entire Confederation Line,” said Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson.“Customers will be able to stay connected during their commute on our world-class, light-rail transit system.”
TELUS will be deploying small cells in all O-Train stations. In anticipation of the arrival of 5G, TELUS is providing new technology that will enable transit customers in Ottawa to fully benefit from faster and more data-capable networks and make way for improved commuter mobility as future smart technologies come online. The company says the connection enables transit customers in Ottawa to access one of the most technologically advanced networks built in Canada for public transportation.
“We are extremely proud of our partnership with the city of Ottawa and look forward to contributing to the city’s largest infrastructure project since the Rideau Canal was built,” said Group President TELUS and Chair TELUS Québec François Gratton. “TELUS is again proving its commitment to our nation’s capital by providing an award-winning network that will allow commuters to benefit from our mobile broadband network.”
TELUS will provide free, unlimited Wi-Fi at the start of the O-Train Confederation Line service in the three downtown, underground Line 1 station’s platform and door to door cellular service through the entire system including in the 2.5-km (1.55-mile) tunnel downtown tunnel, ensuring customers won’t miss calls or be disconnected during their short time underground.
The O-Train Confederation Line is a C$2.13-billion (US$1.61-billion) transit project, jointly funded by the government of Canada, the province of Ontario and the city of Ottawa. When the line opens on Sept. 14, trains will carry up to 10,700 passengers per hour in each direction, between 13 stations. Trains will arrive every five minutes or less at the busiest times.
Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director
Mischa Wanek-Libman is director of communications with Transdev North America. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the transportation industry covering construction projects, engineering challenges, transit and rail operations and best practices.
Wanek-Libman has held top editorial positions at freight rail and public transportation business-to-business publications including as editor-in-chief and editorial director of Mass Transit from 2018-2024. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.
She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and served 14 years as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.
She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.
