First Wi-Fi Tube Stations In London Go Live
For the first time, a London Underground station are offering WiFi services to millions of commuters to get online in the coming weeks. Now King’s Cross and Warren Street are fully equipped with WiFi and by the end of July, almost 80 more tube stations are going to offer WiFi service on their platform.
Transport for London has also announced that at the end of this year, more than 100 tube stations will provide WiFi services to the Tube travelers.
Initially Oxford Circus, Liverpool Street, King’s Cross, Stratford and Leicester Square will offer this service, according to LU and Virgin Media.
Gareth Powell of LU said: “Our customers will soon be able to connect to the internet for live travel information while they are on the move through stations. “Bringing a next-generation WiFi service to one of the world’s oldest underground transport networks is progressing as planned and the forthcoming service is testing well.
“The first stations include some of our busiest and most well-known destinations and we’re on-track for a successful launch this summer – all delivered at no additional cost to farepayers or taxpayers.” Jon James, executive director of broadband at Virgin Media, said: “In partnership with TfL, we’ve been working around the clock to install and test WiFi on London Underground and are about to connect some iconic and world-famous Tube stations with a WiFi service London will be proud of.”
In order to use the WiFi service at the tube stations, commuters need to connect to the service and get registered their email address. Throughout the Olympic season, all the tube travelers will be able to use WiFi at stations for free. However, soon after the Olympics several charges will be imposed.
However, users who will not subscribe this service will only access limited information such as online travel information and some free news and entertainment.
According to a research firm eMarketer, it is expected that more than 17 million people across the country will access the internet using their mobiles at the end of this year.
