Virgin testing out WiFi on London Underground

The London Underground is a miserable place that – apart from all the electronic ads – feels like it doesn’t belong in the 21st Century. There is no ventilation down there, no phone signal, and you often find yourself crammed into a carriage as if you’re being herded off to a Gulag.

Thankfully, Virgin have teamed up with Transport for London to bring a little bit of joy to our subterranean transport system by installing free WiFi down there for the course of the London Olympics.

Several tube stations already have the WiFi installed, with the eventual plan being to have it in 80 stations across London. BBC journalist Rory Cellan-Jones already tested the system by sending a tweet while waiting for his train to arrive. ”Historic first tweet from deep under London using @TFLofficial @virginmedia new tube wifi service – testing, testing,” it says.

WiFi on the underground could massively change the commuting experience, allowing people to absorb themselves in their smartphone worlds rather than anxiously staring into the tunnel waiting for their trains to arrive.

On the downside, the service will only be usable on platforms, not on the trains themselves. Also, the service will only be free for the course of the Olympics, with the eventual pricing being unknown for now.

[Source: Pocket-lint]