NEWS London Underground (LU) has revealed that 70 suppliers have registered their interest in providing mobile and wireless coverage for Tube stations.
In March, London Mayor Ken Livingstone unveiled plans to introduction mobile phone coverage in stations, as well as other technology services such as DAB digital radio, DVB digital video broadcasting and wireless internet.
Building a wireless network could allow passengers to access real-time Tube and travel information on the move through their mobile phones or laptops.
Passengers could access information on travel disruptions before they arrive at affected stations and could amend their journey as appropriate, LU said.
Following consultation with suppliers, LU plans to run a trial of mobile phone service and other technologies at one station in 2006.
A contract for the rollout of the system is likely to be awarded in late 2007, and mobile phone services could be available to Tube passengers on London Underground stations from the summer of 2008, LU said.
LU said it does not currently intend to provide coverage on Tube trains underground but - if feasible - mobile phone services and the additional technologies could be extended across the network to include tunnels and moving trains at a later date.
LU director of strategy and service development Richard Parry said: "We have received an excellent initial response from the market, who have demonstrated considerable interest in providing both mobile phone services and other exciting technologies for LU customers."
While the services are primarily aimed at Tube passengers, LU also wants to explore the possibility of exploiting the technologies for its own operational purposes.
Comments
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1. Mark Bufton
This is the slippery slope to the inevitable. Allowing you to use your phone on the tube will in no way aid business.
Those who will actually use it will be stupid, ignorant people (who said Women? That's sexist and I would never suggest such a thing) who would rather have an inane and pointless conversation rather than read a book or paper for 30 minutes.
There is nothing more infuriating than watching someone sit down on a bus and instinctively get their phone out to have a conversation along the lines of, "Yeah, I'm on a bus, I'll be home in 30 minutes, yeah work was the same, what's on telly tonight, did she, noooo!!!"
People like this should be thrown from bus post haste rather than given technical and moral support by allowing them to infect the tube network with their mindless drivel.
This is why Britain is going to the dogs!
2. anonymous
I think there are many things LU could do to update and improve it's disgraceful service - and enabling mobile technology is not one of them.
The only advantage seems to be the ability to phone the office and warn that you are stuck on a cattle truck underground.
3. Will
Lets hope that there will be mobile free carriages.
Little is worse than listening to loud, mundane, irrelevant and/or pointless conversations that go on and on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Of course concept of getting short messages/texts on the tube is great but limiting use to this is unrealistic.
4. Tony Mudd
If the LU phone system is run by a different company (not one of the traditional mobile service providers), would you effectively be "roaming" to the new network?
Think of how much they could charge.
Would you be able to opt out of receiving calls while on the tube? - i.e. I don't want to pay roaming charges for incoming calls.
5. TO
Perfect! Can you imagine the scene? It is a hot Summer day, and the tube which is already delayed arrives, packed to the hilt with discontent, sweaty bodies. You manage to squeeze on...then oh joy, the sound of the FROG RINGTONE!! I'd say it's Train Rage just waiting to happen...
6. Murdoch Mactaggart
I was in Budapest last summer and realised that my mobile was not only working, deep underground, but also displaying the names of the stations. Seems it's been like that for several years and is taken entirely for granted just as also is the integrated tube/bus/tram/light rail network, punctual services and low-cost fares.
Certainly there were no frog ringtones but then no one seemed to be using their phones selfishly and pointlessly either - communist inheritance, maybe, or perhaps just more maturity?