WiFi now live at first Tube stationsReported by PRWeb on Monday, 25 June 2012 (on June 25, 2012)
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- World’s oldest underground network brings digital future to commuters. - Virgin Media to provide free WiFi to passengers this summer. - By end of July 80 stations to have WiFi access. 120 expected by the end of the year.
London, UK (PRWEB UK) 25 June 2012
London Tube journeys have taken a gigantic leap into the 21st century with the launch of Virgin Media’s next generation WiFi service on London Underground. From today (7 June) passengers can get online and stay in touch with the world above at King’s Cross and Warren Street Tube stations. Oxford Circus and Green Park Tube stations will go live from tomorrow (8 June), with Victoria and Euston going live on 9 June, meaning passengers on the Victoria line will be the first to benefit from WiFi.
Up to 80 Tube stations across the capital will be connected by the end of July and 120 stations are expected to be live by the end of 2012.
The capital is already home to more software and IT companies than any other European City; and the digital and hi-tech sector is expected to account for a third of the capital’s growth over the next two decades. Ensuring London's digital connectivity is world class will be key to furthering this growth - helping existing tech start-ups to grow and attracting high tech global investment.
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “We need to ensure London is able to cement its position as Europe’s leading digital city. Our partnership with Virgin Media to make WiFi available on Tube platforms will be of tremendous benefit as building world class connectivity is critical to supporting new businesses and the jobs they create, especially in the high-tech and creative sectors.”
A comprehensive, free WiFi portal will allow millions of commuters and visitors to get online and find their way around London with up-to-the-minute TfL travel information, as well as discover great things to do in the capital with daily recommendations from Time Out, exclusive playlists from Spotify and the latest trailers and red carpet gossip from MyMovies.Net.
Working in close partnership with Transport for London, Virgin Media is also offering free, full internet access to every online destination throughout the summer, so all Tube passengers will be able to share one of the most amazing summers London has ever seen.
Gareth Powell, London Underground’s Director of Strategy and Service Development, said: “Our new WiFi service is a fantastic deal for Londoners, with live travel updates, entertainment and news freely available to everyone while they are on the move across the capital.
“WiFi at Tube stations will help us improve the journeys of the millions of people that use the Underground everyday at no cost to fare or tax payers.”
Neil Berkett, CEO, Virgin Media, said: “This is a truly historic moment as we connect millions of Tube passengers to the wonderful world of the internet for the first time ever. Our plans for getting London Underground online were very ambitious from the start and, in less than just three months, we’ve launched a major new service, making London one of the world’s leading connected cities. By putting the power of Virgin Media’s next generation fibre optic network in the hands of Londoners and visitors, we’re able to showcase our great capital and celebrate a momentous summer.”
To use the new free WiFi service, London Underground passengers just need to connect to the service and register their email address.
All Tube passengers will have permanent, free access to the new Virgin Media WiFi portal, with up-to-the-minute TfL travel news and great content from Virgin Media’s WiFi partners Time Out, Spotify and MyMovies.net.
After the summer, passengers wanting to hop onto the rest of the internet will be able to make the most of a range of options including full internet access for customers of Virgin Media and selected networks, as well as a Pay As You Go service perfect for visitors and regular London commuters.
Notes to Editors
1 The London Underground stations planned for installation in June and July 2012 are:
Aldgate East
Elephant & Castle
London Bridge
St Paul’s
Angel
Embankment
Manor House
Stepney Green
Archway
Euston
Mansion House
Stockwell
Arsenal
Euston Square
Marble Arch
Stratford
Barbican
Finsbury Park
Marylebone
Swiss Cottage
Bayswater
Goodge Street
Mile End
Temple
Bermondsey
Green Park
North Greenwich
Tottenham Hale
Bethnal Green
Hammersmith (District/Picc)
Old Street
Tower Hill
Blackhorse Road
Heathrow T1-3
Oval
Tufnell Park
Borough
Heathrow T4
Oxford Circus
Vauxhall
Brixton
High Street Kensington
Paddington (Main)
Victoria
Caledonian Road
Highbury & Islington
Piccadilly Circus
Walthamstow Central
Camden Town
Holborn
Pimlico
Warren Street
Canada Water
Holland Park
Queensway
Warwick Avenue
Canary Wharf
Hyde Park Corner
Regents Park
Waterloo
Canning Town
Kentish Town
Seven Sisters
Wembley Central
Chancery Lane
Kings Cross/St Pancras
Southfields
Wembley Park
Charing Cross
Lambeth North
Southwark
West Ham
Clapham North
Lancaster Gate
St James Park
Wimbledon Park
Covent Garden
Leicester Square
St Johns Wood
Westminster
Edgware Road (Circle)
Liverpool Street
To keep up-to-date with the roll-out, please visit http://www.virginmedia.com/wifi or http://www.tfl.gov.uk/wifi.
· To power the WiFi service, Virgin Media is providing connectivity to each Underground station and London Underground has installed in-station equipment, including on-platform access points, to create a station-wide hotspot.
· Passengers will be able to get online throughout connected London Underground stations: from the ticket hall, on the escalators and on the platforms. Users will be also connected whilst on a train in a platform but WiFi will not work in London Underground tunnels.
· In line with the established industry approach to adult content on mobiles, Virgin Media will block adult sites on the new WiFi service utilising a Nominum content filtering solution
· London Underground and Virgin Media are launching an advertising and customer information campaign throughout Tube stations and online to ensure passengers can make the most of the service. Users will be encouraged to go online to explore the service, find out how the service works and share experiences, hints and tips.
The Tube is undergoing a huge and essential programme to upgrade its ageing infrastructure – vital to cope with a growing population and to support the economic development and growth of the capital and the UK. This includes the introduction of new track and signalling and the rebuilding of some of our most important stations. By the end of the current programme there will be 30% more capacity. This will inevitably result in some disruption for passengers, but TfL is working hard to provide information and alternative travel options. The work is essential to provide for London’s growing transport needs now, and into the future. TfL is urging all Londoners and Tube, London Overground, London Tramlink and DLR passengers to “check before you travel” at weekends, allowing extra journey time where necessary. Weekend travel news is available at http://www.tfl.gov.uk/check.
About Virgin Media
Virgin Media is the first provider of all four broadband, TV, mobile phone and home phone services in the UK.
The company’s cable network – the result of a multi-billion pound private investment – delivers ultrafast broadband connections to over half of all UK homes, with speeds of up to 100Mb, and is being expanded to reach thousands more people across the country.
Virgin Media has developed the most advanced interactive television service, bringing together broadcast TV, thousands of hours of on demand programming and the best of the web in a single set-top box powered by TiVo. The company was the first to offer HD TV and 3D on demand to millions of UK households.
Virgin Media also operates the most popular virtual mobile network in the UK which, when launched, was the world’s first such mobile phone service. It is also one of the largest fixed-line home phone providers in the country.
Links:  Full news story
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