London Tube to get Wi-Fi in time for Olympics
TfL confirms plans still going ahead, though provider has not yet been chosen
By Carrie-Ann Skinner | PC Advisor | Published 10:26, 25 January 12
Wi-Fi connections will be made available on the platforms and escalators of 120 tube stations in London in time for the Olympic Games, says Transport for London (TfL).
TfL originally announced its plan to ensure passengers could check their emails and surf the web from the platforms of underground stations by the time the Olympics begin this summer, in March last year, following a "successful" trial at Charing Cross. However, after the UK's mobile operators scrapped plans to install a mobile network on the London Underground in time for the Olympics, there were fears the Wi-Fi plans would also be abandoned.
"London Underground is continuing with preparations to install the necessary infrastructure and is on schedule to complete the project as planned.
"An announcement of the chosen service provider will be made in early spring leaving plenty of time for this to be delivered to customers in time for the 2012 Games," TfL's director of strategy and service development Gareth Powell told Mobile Marketing.
TfL did not reveal whether commuters would be charged to access the Wi-Fi network, saying it is down to the operator that wins the tender to provide the service.
The Charing Cross trial, which began in November 2010 and was conducted in conjunction with BT Openzone, offered a Wi-Fi provision in the ticket hall and platforms at the underground station. While access to tube and travel information was available for free, non-BT customers had to pay to access other websites and services.
