Free Wi-fi access to Tube commuters in the pipeline
February 21st, 2011 | by Javaria Akbar
Office workers commuting to work on the London Underground may be able to benefit from free Wi-fi access by 2012.
Chinese manufacturer, Huawei, is close to securing a deal with London Underground to provide internet connectivity to Tube users ahead of next year’s Olympic games.
Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, has been championing the capital’s bid to become wireless enabled. However, the expense of the project, teamed with the difficulties of installation, has prevented previous plans from coming to light.
Under Huawei’s proposal, currently being discussed by Transport for London (TfL), the whole system would cost over £100 million to implement.
The transport organisation said: “TfL and the Mayor of London are currently in discussion with mobile phone operators and other suppliers about the potential provision of mobile phone services on the deep Tube network. Given the financial pressures on TfL’s budgets, any solution would need to be funded through mobile operators with no cost to fare- or taxpayers”.
Huawei said: “Due to business confidentiality, we are unable to comment on the project at this point, but I can confirm that we are involved in the bidding process. The UK is an important market for Huawei”.
Work will begin this summer if a deal is signed and should be completed before March 2012. However, it could prove a challenge for Thales, the firm responsible for the installation and maintenance of the underground internet system.
The deep tunnels and ageing infrastructure of the underground rail network will make it difficult for construction workers to carry out their duties. On top of that, contractors will have just two hours a day to get the project up and running.
Steve Hallworth from IT firm ITrentals.com said: “Free wi-fi access can only be a great thing for commuters – they can surf the net, keep up with their social media updates and maybe even start work early before they even reach their office”.
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