Riders get free Wi-Fi at six Chelsea subway stations this summer

Straphangers are getting free Internet service this summer at six subway stations in Chelsea that already have paid Wi-Fi service, officials announced Monday.

Transit Wireless, the company contracted by the MTA to wire its underground stations to get cellphone service, said its Wi-Fi partner, Boingo, will offer the free service at the A/C/E station at 14th Street, the L station at Sixth Avenue, the L station at Eighth Avenue, the F/M 14th Street station, the No. 1/2/3 14th Street station and the C/E 23rd Street station. Those stations have had cell service for AT&T and T-Mobile users since September and paid Internet service for Boingo members.

Google Offers is sponsoring the free Internet offering through Sept. 7, but officials are hoping to then line up other sponsors to continue free service.

Transit Wireless plans to increase its service to 30 extra stations along the West Side by the end of 2012, and to have all underground stations wired for service by 2016.