Charing Cross gets BT Wi-Fi in London Underground trial

BT has announced that it is to trial Wi-Fi at Charing Cross Tube station in partnership with London Underground.

Glasgow recently became the first UK subway to get networked up recently, but talk of the London Underground getting phone and device connectivity stretched back for years.

And finally it appears to be happening, albeit at a single station and only through Wi-Fi for the time being

Teamed up

"London Underground has teamed up with BT Openzone, the Wi-Fi provider, to launch a six month trial," said BT's release

"The trial, which will test how the service works and look at customer take up, will include live Transport for London service updates available to all Wi-Fi users including non-BT customers.

"The ticket hall area and Northern and Bakerloo line platforms at Charing Cross Tube station will become the latest addition to the 1.6m BT wireless broadband hotspots in the UK and will allow customers to connect to the web."

Demands

Commuters have long been demanding underground connectivity, and the rise and rise of the connected device has exacerbated the issue.

Security issues and sheer cost have held things back – but the trials could be the harbinger of a real change for people using the underground.

Kulveer Ranger, the Mayor of London's transport adviser, said: "An ever growing commuter populous has been clamouring to be able to check their emails and browse the net whilst on the go.

"This trial at Charing Cross will allow them to do just that whilst on the Tube platform.

"This is an important step towards seeing how this could be achieved and is part of the Mayor's ambition to examine ways in which we can use technology to adapt the city's transport system to meet the needs of those using it."