EE will offer customers free WiFi on the London Underground

UK 4G MOBILE OPERATOR EE has let slip that its customers will be able to access free WiFi on the London Underground from early next year.

EE announced the news on Twitter this morning, but has since deleted the tweet. However, the eagle-eyed INQUIRER team managed to grab the post before it was pulled.

It read, "Travel on the tube? From early 2013, EE customers will be able to get WiFi access on the London Underground at no extra cost. Details soon."

We contacted EE for further information, but it was unable to tell us anything else, leading us to believe that the tweet was posted in error this morning.

However, it seems likely that that the mobile operator has inked a deal with Virgin Media, which provides free WiFi access for London commuters at 72 London Underground stations, to bring free WiFi to EE, Orange and T-Mobile customers. EE is the 4G mobile network branded by Everything Everywhere, the UK mobile operator comprised of a collaboration between Orange and T-Mobile.

This would certainly make sense, as Virgin Media uses the T-Mobile network for its Virgin Mobile services, and the internet service provider (ISP) has announced that it will be offering free WiFi to its customers into 2013.

The ISP hinted that a deal could be made back in October, telling us that its underground WiFi will be free "throughout 2012 and beyond".

Virgin Media declined to comment, but The INQUIRER will bring you more information as soon as we get it. µ