China in Tube phone network bid
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A Chinese telecoms firm is bidding to install mobile phone transmitters in the London Underground in time for the 2012 Olympics, it was reported today.
According to the Sunday Times, Huawei is offering to put in the £50 million phone network free of charge as a gift from one Olympic nation to another.
The paper said mobile network operators Vodafone and O2 had agreed to pick up the tab for installation work, while Huawei would hope to make an income from maintenance fees.
A Transport for London spokesman said: "Transport for London and the Mayor of London are currently in discussion with mobile phone operators and other suppliers about the potential provision of mobile phone services on the deep Tube network.
"Given the financial pressures on TfL's budgets, any solution would need to be funded through mobile operators with no cost to fare or taxpayers. Discussions are ongoing."
Conservative MP Patrick Mercer said an underground mobile network of the kind already installed in Hong Kong and Paris would be "extremely helpful" for emergency workers in the event of a terror attack.
But he warned it "absolutely answers a terrorist's prayers", by providing a means of detonating devices on the Underground.
Mr Mercer told the Sunday Times: "Whoever takes the decision has to be aware it is a double-edged sword.
"It has been proven that a proportion of the cyberattacks on this country come from China. I wonder when the eyes of the world are upon us whether there is sense in using a Chinese firm to install a sensitive mobile network."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments