Free high-speed Wi-Fi is available on all lines of the St. Petersburg subway

2017

In December, 2017 announced Maxima Telecom start of free high-speed network Wi-fi on all lines of the St. Petersburg subway. From now on more than 5 million citizens and about 7 million tourists who are annually visiting the Northern Capital will be able to stay in touch during the trips to the subway.

The network appeared on five lines of the subway, the last network segment — on the Kirov and Vyborg line (Line 1) — is started on December 6 with the assistance of the Governor of Saint Petersburg Georgy Poltavchenko.

"Today our subway threatened on one record — one of the biggest and high-speed networks Wi-fi in the subway is entered. I think this project will be popular by residents. It is important that on start of network in the subway the project does not come to an end. The committee on transport together with Maxima Telecom company handles an issue of creation of a single network of Wi-fi on all passenger transport of St. Petersburg"" — Georgy Poltavchenko at a ceremony of start of network told.

The project on creation of free high-speed Wi-Fi in trains of the subway is implemented by the operator of the largest Wi-Fi-space on transport infrastructure, Maxima Telecom company and its division "Maxima Telecom the Northwest".

In total within the project access points in the Internet equipped 245 trains, in tunnels 400 base stations are set. Total length of an optical and electric cable was 436 km.

In July, 2017 announced Maxima Telecom start of free Wi-Fi on Line 5 of the St. Petersburg subway. More than 2 million passengers who are monthly using the violet line got unlimited Internet access at a speed up to 200 Mbps.

For the first time free Wi-Fi in the St. Petersburg subway appeared on May 30 to Right-bank (4) lines. In a month after its start to MT_FREE network hundreds of thousands of connections are made. Service by passengers at the age of 25-34 is most popular, 51% of all Internet sessions are the share of them. About a third of users – youth at the age of 18-24. Nearly 97% of connections happen from smartphones from which: 55% – Android, 42% – iOS, 3% – Windows.

Within works on Line 5 all 36 main rolling stocks were equipped, in tunnels more than 80 base stations are mounted. The high-speed network Wi-fi of standard 802.11ac working in 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz ranges allows to service up to 200 simultaneous connections in each car.

In May, 2017 the Maxima Telecom company, Wi-Fi-prostranstva operator on transport infrastructure, started the first segment of free network on Line 4 of the St. Petersburg subway. As well as in other cities, the network works under the name of MT_FREE. Thus, between St. Petersburg and Moscow the uniform Wi-Fi-space of two capitals is created.

The free network MT_FREE became available throughout all orange line of the subway. Millions of passengers got high-speed Internet access which can use even in tunnels where mobile communication is often unavailable.

At the first connection to network users need to undergo obligatory identification through confirmation of mobile phone number or authorization on the Portal of public services. The system of identification developed Maxima Telecom was mentioned by the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation as completely meeting the requirements of the current legislation. At the same time for 12 million users who are earlier registered in MT_FREE network, repeated passing of identification is not required.

"Start of Wi-fi network on public transport increases quality of life in the modern city and increases tourist attractiveness of St. Petersburg. Separate important aspect of this work is the organization of an authorized access promoting observance of necessary security measures on the eve of holding in Russia large international actions, such as Cup of confederations of FIFA of 2017 and FIFA World Cup of 2018 which will take place also in the Northern Capital" — Alkhazov Dmitry, the Deputy Minister of Telecom and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation noted.

The free network Wi-fi of standard 802.11ac allowing to service up to 200 simultaneous connections in each car will provide high-speed Internet access for all passengers. All rolling stock is connected to network at a speed more than 200 Mbps — it enough even for watching high-quality online video. There is no restriction for quantity of the consumed traffic for users of Wi-fi in the subway. Within start of the first network segment in tunnels more than 40 base stations were set. Now all 28 trains plying on Line 4 are equipped.

The free network Wi-fi in the St. Petersburg subway is built by Maxima Telecom company only on own and borrowed funds, without attraction of budget financing. Monetization of the project happens due to advertizing in which sales own sales house of the company, and additional services both for users, and for partners is engaged.

2016

Maxima Telecom in October, 2016 won tender for creation of Wi-fi network in the St. Petersburg subway. The free network on all lines will be available to passengers at the end of 2017. Only own and borrowed funds Maxima Telecom are invested in the project, budgetary funds are not raised.