Cablevision has already done a good job of putting Wi-Fi hotpot at nearly all station stops on the Long Island Railroad, Metro North, and NJ Transit lines. Customers waiting for trains can log into their Optimum Online accounts and access the Internet for free while they wait. While this is good for those who arrive for their train early, it doesn’t help those who commute every day. That’s next on the list, as the company plans to put WiFi on the trains themselves.
If this service works the same as station hotspots, riding customers would have full Internet access for the duration of their ride for free. That seems like an incredible value to a daily commuter. While the specific plan isn’t available, there certainly could be a charge involved. The New York MTA faces budget problems, and this could represent another stream of revenue.
For now the plan focuses on the Long Island Railroad and Metro North lines. There is no mention of NJ Transit, which is not owned by the MTA. Success with the MTA could prompt the New Jersey transit company to jump on board, though.
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