Virgin gets Olympics deal for Wi-Fi in London Underground
updated 05:40 pm EDT, Wed March 14, 2012
Stations but not trains to get wireless networking
Virgin Media has won the contract to provide wireless services to London's Underground transit system. Under the contract, the Wi-Fi networking will be free until the completion of the 2012 Summer Olympics, and pay-as-you-go afterwards. Coverage will include station ticket offices, escalators and platforms, but not on the trains themselves.
Virgin will begin offering the Wi-Fi at 80 stations in July, before the Olympics begin. After the sporting events finish, only limited travel information will be available to those not paying for access. Virgin will expand coverage to 120 stations by the end of the year.
The company will not be providing coverage to passengers while on trains because that would have required major costly construction throughout the Underground's extensive tunnel system. [via BBC]
