TFL has teamed up with Virgin Media and today announced their new plan to install free internet in the underground to 80 of the 217 stations. This plan will be in action just in time for the Olympics, so spectators can enjoy some free internet on their busy travels.

This is just the start of this wonderful plan as virgin media are hoping to extend the WIFI to 40 more stations by the end of the year. But the free internet won’t last forever as there are further plans in place to introduce a pay as you go system that will allow customers to surf on the internet for a fee.

Virgin spokesmen told the guardian government computing that the service is being funded from the company’s capital expenditure budget which is roughly about £640 million so there is no cost for the London Underground

Boris Johnson is delighted with the plan and has said this “It’s vital that we harness the massive opportunities stemming from the digital revolution, by creating a vibrant, world class industry to attract investment and create jobs for Londoners.” More people working in IT department will be needed to maintain the WIFI.

“It affects us greatly. Once we’ve got that capability rolled out, we can dramatically change how we deliver services to Transport for London. No longer are we tied to a fixed copper and fibre in the ground delivery mechanism and… we can reduce costs maybe on the networks, maybe on the terminal equipment, and the types of equipment we interface with is dramatically different,” TfL’s CIO Steve Townsend