- Boldyn switches on Wi-Fi in several BART stations ahead of Super Bowl LX
- The subway connectivity update started in 2020 with Mobilitie, which was later bought by Boldyn
- Boldyn has several transit update programs underway, including the London tube and the NYC subway
Ahead of Super Bowl LX this weekend, global systems integrator Boldyn has finally switched on Wi-Fi 6E in Bay Area Rapid Transit subway stations, which will allow people to watch the big game touchdown videos in the salubrious terminals of five stations of the Bay Area system.
Boldyn’s Christos Karmis, CEO of its U.S. business, told Fierce in July 2023 that rolling out Wi-Fi in train stations would be a 2025 event. The company evidently missed that schedule.
Now, it appears they are back on track (no pun intended) before the Seattle Seahawks take on the New England Patriots on Sunday evening at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.
The first five stations — SFO Airport, West Oakland, Embarcadero, Civic Center and Powell Street — are now live with free Wi-Fi. After these initial five stations, BART and Boldyn plan to deploy Wi-Fi at 16th Street, 24th Street, Balboa Park, Glen Park and Daly City stations by June. Remaining stations are expected to be completed by early 2028.
“Boldyn worked with us to deliver this initial phase as the Bay Area hits the world stage for the Big Game, and more upgrades are slated in the months and years to come,” said Ravi Misra, assistant general manager of technology at BART, in a statement.
Rolling out 5G DAS for Super Bowl LX
Boldyn has started rolling out some 5G distributed antenna systems (DAS) connectivity on the BART system. “It's already happening,” the company told Fierce. “Boldyn has already deployed 5G coverage in SFMTA and select BART tunnels and stations.”
BART started the underground connectivity program in September 2020 with startup Mobilitie. BAI Communications bought Mobilitie in October 2021 and rebranded as Boldyn in March 2023, combining multiple units under that banner, including another cellular subway company, Transit Wireless.
As well as the Bay Area project, Boldyn is also updating connectivity on transit systems such as the London Underground, the New York City subway and the Chicago Transit Authority.