Apparently mobile network operators in the United Kingdom are in the last stages of finalising a £150 million deal to deliver mobile phone coverage service to London’s underground network.
According to an article over on Intomobile by Dusan Belic and by way of Cellular-news, the deal between Transport for London and the big four UK carriers has been backed by the Mayor of London, and the deal is expected to be completed within 2 weeks.
A spokeswoman for Transport for London stated, “TfL and the Mayor of London are currently in discussion with mobile phone operators and other suppliers about the potential provision of mobile phone services on the deep tube network. Given the financial pressures on TfL’s budgets any solution would need to be funded through mobile operators with no cost to fare or taxpayers. Discussions are ongoing.”
Furthermore an “unnamed source” for one of the mobile networks has stated, “We are very close to signing a deal to put mobile on the underground. The Mayor of London is keen for it [the network] to happen before the Olympics.”
Apparently the networks have agreed to begin roll out of the mobile service on the Central and Jubilee lines in time for the Olympics along with other underground lines following after. Well it’s about time they delivers mobile phone coverage when using the underground anyway, don’t you agree?