Back when cell phones were first becoming a big deal, our newsroom ran a poll on our fairly new website. We asked if people wanted the ability to talk on their devices when subways were in a tunnel. It wasn't terribly scientific, but if I recall correctly, something like 85-90% said they had no desire to listen to people talk to someone over their cell, as they tried to relax/read/sleep or just have some quiet time as they rode to their destination. 

Either times have really, really changed or people still hate having to listen to the idiotic overly loud conversations of others. It's like those people in their cars who drive with the windows open and their radios blaring full blast. Again, no one wants that and when asked, people generally hate the jackasses who insist on demonstrating their bad taste in music. 

Somehow, it doesn't surprise me that Rogers would turn a blind eye to that. 

In the end, it's really all about manners and consideration - two things that seem to be in short supply these days. 

RadioAaron wrote:

As a daily subway user, I've witnessed virtually no speakerphone conversations since cell service opened up. 

I'm more likely to hear tik-tok snippets, but even those are rare.

All a bit more common later in the evenings, as one would expect.

The vast majority of people are respectful

Agreed 100%.  One thing that did change with the newer trains is that it is one big long train now and not separate cars, so it might be harder to get away from that one idiot making all the noise.  

RadioActive wrote:

It's like those people in their cars who drive with the windows open and their radios blaring full blast.  

Interesting analogy. 
The idiots in cars can be fined by police if it can be proven that they did not hear an ambulance coming. (ie did not move over to let the ambulance pass)
Riding on TTC may not require driving and concentration, or listening for an ambulance, but I still like this analogy because instead of listening to their own noise, maybe they should keep an ear open for TTC announcements, which tend to pop up often. 

Nothing is more funny than watching everyone clear out of a train that just went out of service only to have that one idiot still sitting there partying away, paying no attention to what's going on, suddenly getting up and leaving, almost too late.
(How do these same people not miss their stop? Honestly...)