EE customers to get free Wi-Fi on London tubes from 2013, deal struck with Virgin Media?

Going underground

EE has announced that it will be offering its customers free Wi-Fi on the London underground system free of charge. This will start early next year.

Posting the news on its Twitter feed - but without elaboration - EE says, "Travel on the tube? From early 2013, EE customers will be able to get WiFi access on the London Underground at no extra cost. Details soon."

There's little else, but Pocket-lint expects that the further details will include a deal with the tube's chosen broadband operator Virgin Media.

Currently, Virgin Media uses the T-Mobile network for its Virgin Mobile services, and T-Mobile, of course, is one of the umbrella companies within the EE infrastructure. Additionally, Virgin Media runs (currently free, but soon to be paid for) Wi-Fi in 41 of London's underground stations, so has a valuable bargaining chip in its grasp.

So does EE, of course. Pocket-lint spoke to Virgin Media in September about possibilities for the TV, mobile and broadband service provider to buy a 4G package from EE. A spokesman explained to us at that time that talks between the two companies are "always taking place".

"We already work with EE as they are our network partner for our mobile service, hence we are always in talks with them," we were told.

It is therefore reasonable to suggest that a deal has been struck between the two, with free tube Wi-Fi going one way, and 4G network access the other.

We have contacted both Virgin Media and EE for further comment and will update when we receive reply.

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Tags: EE 4G Virgin Media Networks Wi-Fi London

 

EE customers to get free Wi-Fi on London tubes from 2013, deal struck with Virgin Media? originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 21 Nov 2012 09:18:38 +0000

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