O hops onto London Underground with Virgin Media WiFi

Virgin Media has signed up O2 as a wholesale partner for its WiFi on London Underground service, enabling O2 customers' access to free London Underground WiFi from June. O2 joins EE and Vodafone as a wholesale partner for Virgin Media's WiFi1 service meaning the vast majority of Tube passengers can stay connected with full WiFi access at no extra cost2.

As part of the deal, all existing O2 customers signed up to O2 WiFi will be automatically registered for free WiFi on the Underground, taking away the need to sign up above ground or remembering a password.

Virgin Media also confirmed another 12 London Underground (LU) stations are coming online this week, including Bank, Baker Street and Earl's Court3. This brings the total number of WiFi enabled stations to 120, meeting Virgin Media's and TfL's target of 120 London Underground stations online.

Mark Williamson, Head of London WiFi at Virgin Media said: WiFi on London Underground has gone from strength to strength and we're delighted the majority of Londoners are staying connected for no extra cost. Virgin Media's unique fibre optic network means we deliver unrivalled capacity for next generation digital services both inside and outside the home, meeting the increasing demand for wireless services.

Gary Booker, Head of Consumer at O2, said: We're excited to bring free Underground WiFi to O2 customers this summer. Our customers want to stay connected wherever they are and will soon be able to check their email, update their Facebook status, shop online, book their next holiday and stay connected to their friends and family right across Tube stations in Central London.

Gareth Powell, Director of Strategy and Service Development for London Underground, said: Having O2 on board is excellent news for the thousands of people that use the Tube everyday. Most customers will now be able to access live travel information or use social media to plan their social life while on the move.

WiFi on the Tube is part of how we are improving services for our customers. 2013 is London Underground's 150th anniversary, we were at the forefront of technology when the first Underground train ran and this shows how we are maintaining that tradition, using modern technology to improve customers' journeys.

Virgin Media's comprehensive WiFi portal will continue to keep all Tube passengers up-to-date with TfL travel information and great London entertainment and news for free. Virgin Media also offers a Pay As You Go service with daily, weekly and monthly passes4, giving Tube passengers a range of options about how to get online underground.

Notes to Editors

1 More information can be found at: http://mediacentre.virginmedia.com/Stories/EE-and-Vodafone-sign-up-to-Virgin-Media-WiFi-on-London-s-Underground-2404.aspx

2 Virgin Media broadband and mobile subscribers, O2, EE and Vodafone customers represent approximately 89% of consumers in Greater London

3 Another 12 London Underground stations will be WiFi enabled this week. These stations are:

Acton Town

Ladbroke Grove

Baker Street

Maida Vale

Bank & Monument

Queen's Park

Caledonian Road

Shepherd's Bush (on the Central line)

Earl's Court

Sloane Square

Holland Park

West Ruislip

108 London Underground stations are already WiFi enabled. To keep up-to-date with the roll-out, please visit www.virginmedia.com/wifi or www.tfl.gov.uk/wifi

4 Details of Virgin Media's WiFi Passes are as follows:

Virgin Media WiFi Pass

Cost

Daily

£2

Weekly

£5

Two Month Special

£15

For journalist enquiries contact

Press Office

t: 0207 909 2225

e: pressoffice@virginmedia.co.uk

About Virgin Media

Virgin Media is the first provider of all four broadband, TV, mobile phone and home phone services in the UK.

The company's cable network the result of a multi-billion pound private investment delivers ultrafast broadband connections to over half of all UK homes, with speeds of up to 100Mb, and is being expanded to reach thousands more people across the country.

Virgin Media has developed the most advanced interactive television service, bringing together broadcast TV, thousands of hours of on demand programming and the best of the web in a single set-top box powered by TiVo. The company was the first to offer HD TV and 3D on demand to millions of UK households.

Virgin Media also operates the most popular virtual mobile network in the UK which, when launched, was the world's first such mobile phone service. It is also one of the largest fixed-line home phone providers in the country.

Virgin Media Inc. is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market and the London Stock Exchange (VMED).

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