O2 launches underground calling scheme

10 September 2008

Glasgow Subway to trial mobile phone calls underground

O2 customers in Glasgow will soon be able to enjoy the luxury of making and receiving calls while using the city's underground subway. The scheme will go live in December with the aid of transmission provider Arqiva and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT). The scheme will initially be installed in five of Glasgow's busiest Subway stations, though customers will be limited to using their phones on platforms and station concourses. However, the service does extend to 3G services, meaning O2 customers will be able to make video calls, access the internet, download and MMS.

If it proves successful it could lead the way to a similar scheme being launched on the London Underground, with the possibility of Wi-Fi being introduced in the future. O2's decision marks the first time any UK mobile network has implemented such a service on any underground transport.