London Underground WiFi trials begin today

A six month trial has begun on the London Underground today, allowing users to access wireless broadband services.

Thanks to Boris Johnson, commuters can now access a WiFi connection on their smartphone when passing through Charing Cross station. Signals are available from both the ticket hall and on the Bakerloo and Northen Line platforms.

London Underground are working with BT Openzone on the trial, which is expected to roll out across the whole of the city if it proves to be a success.

Kulveer Ranger, Transport Adviser to the Mayor, said: “This trial at Charing Cross will allow them to do just that whilst on the Tube platform. It is an important step towards seeing how this could be achieved and is part of the Mayor’s ambition to examine ways in which we can use technology to adapt the city’s transport system.

According to the BBC, around 95 percent of the capital currently has WiFi coverage. The addition of underground stations would help with the goals of ‘Project WiFi’, which plans to bring wireless network access to the entire capital in time for the Olympics.

[Source: TFL]