Virgin Media unveils Tube Wi-Fi pricing as 20 more stations get connected
Virgin Media has extended its London Underground Wi-Fi network to 20 more stations, and announced pay-as-you-go pricing that will come into force when it starts charging commuters for the service at the start of next year.
Stations added to Virgin Media's London Underground Wi-Fi network on Tuesday include Notting Hill Gate, Russell Square, Balham and Finsbury Park. (The full list of the 20 stations is available on the next page.)
A further 28 stations are due to get Wi-Fi in early 2013, bringing the total up to 120, according to Virgin Media. However, the company has previously said it expected to hit the 120 stations milestone by the end of this year.
The delay has not been cause by technical issues, a Virgin Media spokeswoman told ZDNet. "We were hoping to have them all done in 2012," she said. "It's been an understandably busy year so we've looked at the rollout alongside TfL. Having taken a look at it, we're focusing on 92 stations this year and we'll continue that rollout in 2013 to reach 120."
The Wi-Fi service is currently available to all commuters for free. From early next year, Virgin Media will begin charging some commuters for access to the service, announcing on Tuesday the pay-as-you-go options that will be available: a daily pass costing £2, a weekly pass for £5 and monthly passes at £15.
Virgin Media mobile or broadband customers will still be able to use the service for free next year, as will Vodafone, Orange, T-Mobile and EE mobile customers, after the operators struck a deal with Virgin. As a result, Wi-Fi will be free to 76 percent of the Greater London population, Virgin Media said.
Passengers who do not wish to pay will still be able to access a homepage with travel information on, it added.
The latest 20 stations on the London Underground to receive Wi-Fi are:
- Belsize Park
- Notting Hill Gate
- Camden Town
- Seven Sisters
- Chalk Farm
- South Kensington
- Highgate
- Swiss Cottage
- Mornington Crescent
- Bounds Green
- Balham
- Finsbury Park
- Clapham Common
- Holloway Road
- Oval
- Russell Square
- Clapham South
- Turnpike Lane
- Lancaster Gate
- Wood Green