14 January 2008
Work has begun on the first combined mobile phone and Wi-Fi network for a municipal underground transport system.
The result of the hook-up between tech firm Arqiva and the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) will be that Glasgow commuters using the city's 15-stop subway system can use their phones while on the move.
Both 2G and 3G coverage will be provided by the fibre-optic cable network - trials of which will begin when building is completed later in the year.
Howard Williams, Business Development Manager at Arqiva, said: "As the UK moves closer to wirelessly-enabled areas the benefits that wireless networks, such as the one contracted by SPT, can provide are being recognised and cities need to capitalise on this."
Assistant Chief Executive of SPT Gordon Maclennan added: "This is a real milestone for SPT as the state of the art technology employed will realise our ambition of continuous improvement to services on the subway.
"Accessibility and connectivity are vital in today’s fast moving technology environment and I'm delighted that SPT has enabled Glasgow to set the standard."
© 2008 Adfero Ltd
Content for the uSwitch.com market news service is provided by a third party, Adfero Ltd. Whilst uSwitch.com makes reasonable efforts to check the reliability of this content, uSwitch.com does not guarantee the accuracy thereof or endorse the views or opinions given by Adfero Ltd, unless expressly stated otherwise.