Beijing Subway to Have 4G Internet by End of July ... Supposedly

Tom Arnstein | May 27, 2014 3:15 pm | 5 comments | 2565 reads

China Daily reports that Beijing’s subway users will have access to 4G Internet connections as early as the end of July, rendering Wi-Fi access a reality and no longer just a rumor, despite authorities having said otherwise only three weeks ago.

The announcement, which comes via Beijing MTR Corp, states that the 4G network will cover carriages, platforms, tunnels and entrances leaving you to wrestle the crowds while everyone stares dead-eyed into their phones with even more determination.

Maybe the move is to dissuade individuals from eating on-the-go or at least turn people’s attention away from the eternal dithering as to whether food should be banned on the subway.

The article finishes by pointing out that Beijing’s subway would be one of few places to actually have 4G since its introduction to China at the end of last year, but of course, that’s if the plan ever goes ahead.

Photo: China Daily

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Re: Beijing Subway to Have 4G Internet by End of July ......
Posted May 28, 2014 11:26am by admin
(Reply to a previous comment)

olli wrote:
No Need for 4G... by the time they got it up and running it will be such a headache to even get into the subway, u will probably stick to cycling. You ask why!? Redicuously overzealous security meassures: 

http://www.thenanfang.com/blog/longer-delays-as-beijing-metro-security-check-dramatically-increased/

TX_Chick wrote:
I was on the subway over the weekend and didn't experience any additional security measures. I would wager a guess that Tiantongyuan is like that every day, because it's always overpacked at the first station. Too many people living far north of the city just to afford their rent.

Again, poor research by bloggers. The increased security measures are only at 4 stations, none that are in the typical expat circles

Beijingcream has a much more balanced report on it http://beijingcream.com/2014/05/you-should-probably-avoid-these-beijing-subway-stations/

 

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Re: Beijing Subway to Have 4G Internet by End of July ......
Posted May 28, 2014 10:59am by TX_Chick

I was on the subway over the weekend and didn't experience any additional security measures. I would wager a guess that Tiantongyuan is like that every day, because it's always overpacked at the first station. Too many people living far north of the city just to afford their rent.

Re: Beijing Subway to Have 4G Internet by End of July ......
Posted May 28, 2014 10:19am by Jerry

Yes - because I enjoy streaming videos while mashed up into someone's armpit.

Jerry Chan, Digital Marketing & Content Strategy Director

Re: Beijing Subway to Have 4G Internet by End of July ......
Posted May 28, 2014 12:22am by Steven Schwankert

Give me a break. We don't have mobile service on some lines, nevermind 3G. And the definition of 4G will be like 3G and broadband: look at what the international standard is for those services, then make sure the service hits the minimum occasionally so it can be called 4G.

Re: Beijing Subway to Have 4G Internet by End of July ......
Posted May 27, 2014 4:11pm by olli

No Need for 4G... by the time they got it up and running it will be such a headache to even get into the subway, u will probably stick to cycling. You ask why!? Redicuously overzealous security meassures:

http://www.thenanfang.com/blog/longer-delays-as-beijing-metro-security-check-dramatically-increased/