I don't Adamson and Eva it! - INQUIRER rhyming slang
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Majority of Londoners oppose Underground WiFi scheme
THE MAJORITY OF LONDONERS do not want WiFi on the Underground, according to the first independent survey.
It found that 55 per cent of those asked were not in favour of Mayor Boris Johnson's scheme, which is set to be in operation in time for the 2012 Olympics. An earlier survey by the public company that manages the tube, Transport for London (TFL) found that a majority wanted WiFi. TFL has also stated WiFi would be a money spinner.
The main reason for the new survey's respondents' opposition was privacy, with nearly half of those opposed to the move because of possible access to personal data over unsecured WiFi networks.
The next highest concern, at 31 per cent, was that higher use of smartphones, tablets and laptop computers would lead to a higher incident rate of theft.
While 14 per cent said that they were against the WiFi programme because it would make transport on the Tube more stressful than it already is.
According to The Daily Telegraph TFL has dismissed the public's concerns, suggesting that most of its customers would welcome the WiFi networks. TFL points out that much of the capital's train track is above ground, with access to phone networks, so this would simply mean offering similar services while underground.
The new survey, which questioned 950 people, was carried out by Myvouchercodes.co.uk. The Torygraph also highlighted a survey made in February of this year, which revealed that three quarters of Londoners were not in favour of voice calls on the Tube. One commenter put it: "It's horrible enough as it is, without the sweaty oik jammed up against you being on the 'phone, too." µ
Tags: Internet
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I'm sure more would object if they realised that privacy could be an issue.
Then again, as most people don't turn their phone into airline mode to save battery when they are underground, I doubt many will bother to turn off their wifi... How many of those are currently set to jump onto open wifi points is unknown, but I'm sure a suitably set up laptop in a bag could gather quite a few email passwords even now.
55 per cent of Underground users (I assume) don't intend to use the underground public wi-fi. Therefore 45 per cent do, which is probably going to be even more annoying than the 55 per cent were expecting. Well, too bad, if you're a misanthrope then it isn't the place for you anyway.
Hey, any word of them putting wi-fi on buses in the Greater Glasgow area? Never mind, I'm mobilely connected if I want to be.
Making use of this wi-fi network on the tube will not be compulsary - if you have concerns about data privacy or missing a stop then you don't have to use it.
I think that it will be a great benefit to have internet access on the tube - it will make all of those delays that little bit more bearable by being able to complain to the world via Twitter or Facebook!
"The main reason for the new survey's respondents' opposition was privacy, with nearly half of those opposed to the move because of possible access to personal data over unsecured WiFi networks."
Isn't that the same argument not to have public WiFi anywhere. What makes the underground one special that people are suddenly worried about privacy?
how long untill some idiot misses their train or stop because they where to engrossed in the internet and not paying attention to more important things