The UK's first 3G and Wi-Fi network on an underground transport network has arrived for Glasgow Subway – with The Cloud and Arqiva partnering to bring connectivity to the commute.

Although the wait remains for London's Tube to be given network coverage, Glasgow's Subway has now been connected up – with the first service of its kind in the UK.

"There are around 14 million passenger journeys on the Glasgow Subway each year," explained Andy Norris, Services Director for Arqiva's Government, Mobile & Enterprise business unit.

Widespread adoption

"The widespread adoption of smartphones and other cellular hand held devices means that more and more consumers want an 'always on' experience from these devices," he added.

"The addition of Wi-Fi to the existing 3G network demonstrates our ability to design and deploy communications infrastructure that can be used for more than one purpose.

"It also demonstrates our expertise in deploying communication networks in some challenging environments.

"From the onset of the project, we were aware that Wi-Fi was necessary to allow commuters to enjoy seamless connectivity at rush hour as well as quiet periods and The Cloud was the clear choice to help us achieve this goal."

All 15 stations and subway platforms are covered by the partnership's effort, but although The Cloud is offering the first 15 minutes of Wi-Fi free to all – further minutes will need to be bought on PAYG.

Handy. Now you'll be able to call the Police from the Glasgow Subway while you're being stabbed.

Sooooper.

They need this on the London underground.

No. No they don't.

People can survive underground train journeys without being in constant touch with the surface. Besides, knowing how noisy some of the journeys can be, can you imagine adding commuters yelling into their mobile phones?

In the summer it's also best if you don't encourage a packed tube to be raising their arms.

Yes but if they had a 3g signal underground then incidents like the Brazilian shot on the tube by the police would not have happened as they could still get updates. I use the bus when travelling around London now on the rare day trips.

Well, that's happened once. It's not a regular enough happenstance to introduce a system-wide 3G signal, in my opinion. Much better for the emergency services to have their own radio network piped down there, I'd have thought.

I wouldn't be so sure about that.

Yes but that will never happen. The reason being the cost.

Claiming 3G coverage on the tube would've saved Charles De Menezes is ridiculous.
Of all the operational failures that morning, not having enough bandwidth on their mobile is not one of them.

I accept that it was not the reason. The ability to communicate underground should be available for all emergency services.

Err.. on most undergrounds, it already is. Do you think the police use the same mobile network you do?

I have no idea i will ask next time I get picked up by the police if I remember.

Well that must be about the first time in history that the clockwork orange has been technologically advanced.

I have to agree with Heather. One of the good things about the underground is that mobiles don't work and you can be genuinely out of contact from the slave drivers at the office.
Plus I really liked Dara O'Briains idea of setting your mobile phone alarm to 'ring' while passing through the financial districts of London and having a wee conversation involving phrases like 'It's selling for how much?' and 'Oh God, then sell now before it falls any further.' and watching the terrified consternation on the city traders faces.

If you end up asking them for their phone number it might not end up being the 'picked up' either you or the police were expecting .