Request under the FOIA: Wifi on tube network
Request ID: FOI-0672-1819
Date published: 18 September 2018
You asked
Can you please confirm, with the following in order of priority:
i) the total cost of fitting the infrastructure for the wifi network
ii) ongoing cost of the access to the internet on the tube network
ii) data on usage patterns or average time passengers in a tube train can access the internet in zone 1 (ie for a few seconds in each station)
For explanation as to the purpose of my request, I am looking to understand how expensive the current access has been in relation to how much value commuters get out of it.
We answered
Dear
Thank you for your email received by Transport for London (TfL) on 13 June 2018. Please accept my sincere apologies for the delay in responding to you.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm we hold some of the information you require. You asked for:
- the total cost of fitting the infrastructure for the Wi-Fi network
Our total funding for the Wi-Fi network was c.£15m. Wi-Fi is now available at over 260 Tube and 79 London Overground stations across the network. We have also recently agreed a further £1.5m for Elizabeth line stations.
Please note this cost includes both customer and staff access for operational purposes. Our staff have mobile devices to provide additional information to customers.
- ongoing cost of the access to the internet on the tube network
We pay £912k per year to support our Wi-Fi estate, however this includes all Wi-Fi at LU stations, offices and depots for operational purposes. We are unable to break down customer and staff access costs separately.
Our operating costs are offset by commercial revenue paid to us by the customer Wi-Fi access provider (currently Virgin Media), and any surplus is reinvested in the running of transport services.
- data on usage patterns or average time passengers in a tube train can access the internet in zone 1 (ie for a few seconds in each station)
It is not possible to provide this information as we do not know if the users are accessing the Internet whilst standing on the platform or while sitting on the tube.
However, the attached spreadsheet provides a summary table of all Wi-Fi connected stations in zone one where a device has been connected for more than 10 minutes. This shows just under 5,400 client devices usage, by total session duration (around 227,000 minutes) over an average day in June this year.
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely
Eva Hextall
FOI Case Officer
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London
I am writing to request data under the FOIA.
Can you please confirm, with the following in order of priority:
i) the total cost of fitting the infrastructure for the wifi network
ii) ongoing cost of the access to the internet on the tube network
ii) data on usage patterns or average time passengers in a tube train can access the internet in zone 1 (ie for a few seconds in each station)
For explanation as to the purpose of my request, I am looking to understand how expensive the current access has been in relation to how much value commuters get out of it.
Attachments
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