Mobile Phones: Going Underground

If you regularly make use of underground trainwithin the area.
services, or 'the tube', then chances are you've noticedWith SPT's help, Glasgow will be the first major city
the complete lack of mobile network coverage.within the UK to provide its subway customers with
From a technological point of view this is fully2G and 3G network coverage.
understandable, as the networks that provide us withThe implementation of the network will begin later this
mobile phone coverage weren't designed to reachmonth. When complete, customers will be able to use
underground. However, when combined with othertheir phones at underground stations, just as they
technologies, underground coverage is possible.would above ground, accessing the interest, sending
The technology in question is wi-fi, which is cable oftexts and making calls will all be possible.
transmitting data, wireless over very lengthy distances.Arqive, one of the two main broadcasting companies
The required cellular network for mobile phonein the UK, and the ones that have helped make the
coverage can be transmitted over wi-fi networks,underground network possible feel that many more
allowing essentially unlimited coverage.cities would benefit from similar networks.
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), the publicAmidst concerns over passenger safety, similar plans
body which is responsible for planning and co-ordinatingare being made to incorporate the same technology
regional and public transport within the Strathclyde areainto the London underground subway. Trails for which
of western Scotland has recently taken steps toare suspected to begin later this year.
incorporate such technologies into 15 subway stations