TfL cans mobiles on the tube plan

I didn't see a press release from TfL over this - and having checked online, there didn't appear to be one. I found this by chance while browsing an article on spam on The Register, as part of the work for my TMA02 for M150 that I am working on (the CMA41 for T175 has returned 62% btw), anyway, this might be of interest. SPT's subway in Glasgow now has o2 mobile access, since the end of last year.

TfL cans mobiles on the tube plan

Thank f*ck for that

By John Oates • Get more from this author

Posted in Mobile, 16th March 2009 12:34 GMT

 

Transport for London has given up on plans to get mobile phones working underground.

TfL said the technology was available but it was unable to get anyone interested enough to pay to get the kit installed underground.

We're betting the real reason is that it is so damned noisy on most parts of the Underground that you wouldn't be able to have a conversation by phone anyway.

Betting on punters using the system to send texts and download data has obviously not tempted anyone.

A spokeswoman for TfL said: "London Underground tendered for a trial of mobile phones on the Waterloo and City line, but the market has yet to provide us with a credible proposal for enabling mobile phone use on the Tube.

"While it is technically possible to deploy mobile phone and data wireless solutions on the deep level Underground tunnels and stations, the unique nature and environment of the Tube mean that project costs would be prohibitively high at this time."

Prague and Newcastle both have full mobile access, but London was mulling "to the platform edge" access last time we checked in 2004 - so phones would work in stations but not on trains.

By 2005 TfL was claiming it had received more than 70 bids to install the technology required.

The idea was to split revenue from calls and texts between operators and TfL. ®