Virgin wins London Tube WiFi contract

Virgin Media has won the contract to provide WiFi to the London Underground, transport officials said. The contract is to provide WiFi in ticket offices and on escalators and platforms only, because it would have required major construction work to add connectivity in the tunnels of the Tube network, the BBC reported Wednesday. Starting in July and during the 2012 London Olympics all Tube passengers will be able to connect to the Internet for free, officials said. After the Olympic Games it will be a pay-as-you-go service. Virgin Media said it would have WiFi in 80 Underground stations by the summer, and in as many as 120 stations by the end of the year. "We'll help people make the most of the city and will continue to evolve the service, ensuring everyone can benefit from a service London will be proud of," Virgin Media Chief Executive Officer Neil Berkett said. London Underground staff will be responsible for installing the equipment but the organization emphasized the cost would be covered by the commercial contract with Virgin. "This latest innovation is great news for Tube customers, who now have access to e-mails, Web and social media underground for the first time," Gareth Powell, London Underground's director of strategy and service development, said.