Customers travelling on the 23 mile Channel tunnel between Folkstone and Calais will soon be able to enjoy connectivity via their mobiles, 250ft under the sea, as they do so. The deal comes from a match between four mobile operators including France Telecom Orange and Free Mobile. The signal technology breakthrough coming from Alcatel-Lucent, reports the Guardian.
France’s Industry Minister Eric Besson has announced that the new 2G and 3G systems will go live in July and the deal between Eurotunnel, which manages the Channel tunnel, and the four mobile operators is due to be signed in April.
France certainly wants to lead the way when it comes to underground mobile services, users of the Paris Metro can already enjoy their mobiles as they travel. Unfortunately plans for the London Underground have been put to one side due to funding, but we hope this will change.
The timing of this announcement couldn’t have been better, with the London Olympics just a stones-throw away from the launch of the service.
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