Remember when people said that WiFi on Tube stations was too costly and difficult to install? That the age and complexity of the transportation system would be a nightmare to overcome?
Now we have 150 stations in the network with WiFi switched on and, whilst it’s a shame that all the mobile networks couldn’t have worked on a joint project to get a cell signal down there, you can at least check out those funny Halloween photos from the weekend via Facebook.
Virgin Media have sent us a pretty infographic to celebrate the 150thv station, and it shows how the WiFi is getting used. 3TB gets pumped into the stations every day and the six recently added stations include Wimbledon, Richmond, Morden, East Ham, Barking and Upminster.
WiFi on London Underground reaches 150th station
· Six new stations added to Virgin Media powered WiFi service
· Over 2.5 million devices getting online underground
· More than 3TB of data consumed on the service every day
· Busiest stations for underground WiFi are revealed
Tube passengers can now get online in 150 London Underground stations, following the addition of another six stations to Virgin Media’s WiFi on London Underground service. The announcement,made simultaneously on Twitter this morning, reveals WiFi connectivity can now be enjoyed in Wimbledon, Richmond, Morden, East Ham, Barking and Upminster Underground stations.
People are using the popular service more than ever, with over 2.5 million devices now registered and more than 3TB of data consumed over the network every day. That’s enough data to download more than 52,000 music albums or around 9,000 TV shows.
The spot that sees the most activity across the entire service is the Waterloo & City Line platform at Waterloo station1. Kings Cross and Oxford Circus are the overall busiest stations.
Further from central London, Stockwell and Finsbury Park see some of the highest volumes of passengers getting online to check their emails, look up journey times, keep up with the latest news and entertainment and stay in touch with friends and family whilst underground.
Joe Lathan, Director of Broadband at Virgin Media, said: “This is a milestone moment for Virgin Media with 150 Tube stations and more than two and a half million devices now connected to WiFi on London Underground. Tube passengers have loved the WiFi service ever since we launched in time for London 2012. Now they can benefit from live travel information, news and social media in Tube stations across the capital.”
Gareth Powell, London Underground’s Director of Strategy and Service Development, said: “WiFi on the Tube is one of many ways we’re improving our customers’ journeys and the service has moved from strength to strength since it launched in time for the London 2012 Olympic Games. We’re delighted that 150 stations on the Tube now have WiFi which will help our customers benefit from live travel information, news and social media while they are on the move across the capital.”
Virgin Media has been helping Tube passengers get online underground since June 2012, with nearly half a million people using the new service throughout the London 2012 Olympic Games2. Virgin Media has continued to develop the service with 150 stations now online.
All Tube passengers can keep up-to-date with TfL travel information and quality London entertainment and news for free through Virgin Media’s WiFi portal. The majority of passengers can get online at no extra cost3 but Virgin Media also offers a Pay As You Go service with daily, weekly and monthly passes4, giving Tube passengers lots of ways to get online underground.
To find out more about the roll-out of WiFi on London Underground and find out how to use the service, head to www.virginmedia.com/wifi orwww.tfl.gov.uk/wifi.
