Like it or not, many of us are plugged into some form of Electronic Device, but on the Underground, you can’t connect to the virtual world as you are out of range of a cellular or WIFI network. This is 2011, surely there’s some latest technology available, or is being secretly worked on by some super smart RF Electronics Design Engineer, that can save me from the monotonous daily commute in places like the London Underground!?
There’s only so much Angry Birds I can play and as much as I like to listen to music, unless you want to carry around a set of noise cancellation headphones, you’re likely to go deaf sooner or later as you have to crank up the volume quite loud to hear it! Rather than stare into empty space or the armpit of the person next to me on the busy tube train, what I’d like to be able to do is check and respond to my e-mails, browse the web and instant message my friends or business colleagues, is this to much to ask in 2011 where we are at the cutting edge of electronic design?
So what’s the answer? Surely the technology is already available to enable us to use our mobile devices whilst in an area where regular wireless communications services can’t penetrate? Is installing WIFI networks or Picocell type technologies on the Underground (that's the subway for non Brits) the answer? If it is, why isn’t it deployed? Is it a commercial decision; or perhaps from a technical perspective, no one has found a reliable solution? One of the downsides of wireless communications is they don’t work very well in places like the Underground due to them being noisy environments surrounded by heaps of concrete and metal!
So what’s the answer to this problem? Or should we just accept it, and live with it the way it is? My view is that I’d like to be able to use my Smart phone on the Underground, however, If I’m honest, I’m only really for enabling data and not voice, so I can still get some peace whilst I’m plugged into the virtual world and not have to listen to everyone else shouting down their mobile phone.
What do think? Feel free to add your comments…
alan.chong
in Singapore, the telco recently upgraded their underground coverage infrastrutures after almost 25 years since its completion.
and finally we have pretty good network reception as well as 3G services underground.
it seems like the building of infrastructures aren't able to catch up with the development of technologies, which is a major tumbling block..
Humphrey
Try reading a book.
LStacey
Brilliant!
electro_pa
Use a sharp stick on your Underground Authority!
Melbourne, Australia's relatively short, underground rail loop has service installed. It's just infrastructure spend!
GSM-R & Mobile Carrier 850, 900, 1800 & 2100 networks implemented between 9/2009 & 5/2011.
LStacey
Only around 100 miles of the London Underground is actually underground so I'm sure that with the right technology, it wouldn't be that expensive. If each of the major mobile operators chipped in, it would be quite achievable.