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O2 customers in the Glasgow Subway will soon be the first in the UK to use their mobile phones underground as part of a new ground-breaking deal. O2 said it will be the first mobile phone operator in the UK to utilise the multi-user distributed antenna system, which enables mobile phones to work underground.
The contract, negotiated with transmission provider Arqiva and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), will see O2 services installed in five of Glasgow’s busiest Subway stations - Buchanan Street, St Enoch, Kelvinbridge, Hillhead and Partick.
The installation will go ‘live’ in December 2008 and could potentially provide a benchmark for rollout in other underground stations such as London, in future.
Although initially limited to platforms and station concourses in the Glasgow Subway, the technology installed by Arqiva could eventually be used to provide coverage around the rest of the SPT underground network.
O2 said when the service launches its customers will be able to use 2G services, including making voice calls and sending text messages - as well as 3G services such as video, internet access, downloading and MMS.
“This is the first time that any mobile phone network in the UK has implemented a service like this and O2 is delighted to be giving its customers the first chance to communicate on the underground,” said Derek McManus, O2 chief technology officer.
“Ultimately, this is about providing O2 customers with the best customer experience and if this means that they can continue conversations on underground platforms or can text friends to say that they’ll be arriving in five minutes, then we’ve successfully provided a better service.”
Gordon Maclennan, assistant chief executive for operations at Strathclyde Partnership for Transport said the plans had been in place for some time.
“I’m delighted that we can offer this service to our passengers in time for Christmas,” he said.
“It’s a first for Glasgow and it opens the door for wider Wi-Fi coverage in the Underground in future. Accessibility and connectivity are key parts of our continuous Subway modernisation programme.”
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