Virgin Media Wifi hotspots at Tube stations to remain free until new year

Virgin Media's Wifi service on the London Underground will remain free for everyone until at least the end of the year.

The internet service provider (ISP) said although it would eventually start charging for the service at some point next year, unless the user is a Virgin Media subscriber, but could give no date for when this would happen.

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"We want to make sure we get the service right for everyone so at the moment we haven't fixed any prices or when we will start charging but expect to at some point next year," a Virgin Media representative told us.

Virgin Media's Wifi is currently at 72 underground stations and was originally only going to be free to access during the Olympics and Paralympics. After this the ISP said it was going to charge for connections, unless the user was a Virgin Media subscriber.

But today the company said the service had been such a success, with its busiest 24-hour period on 27 September, delivering over one million tweets, Facebook posts, emails and web pages, it was extending the free period.

Tube travellers will be able to access email, apps the web while waiting for trains

During August the company also said its Wifi at some stations was even faster than some fixed line broadband services. Green Park came top with a download speed of 21.73Mbits/sec followed by Euston with 19.92Mbits/sec and Kings Cross with 18.49Mbits/sec.

Jon James, executive director of broadband at Virgin Media, said: "Wifi on London Underground has been an incredible success with hundreds of thousands of people kept up-to-date and entertained whilst travelling around our capital city.

"Commuters and visitors will be able to make use of the internet throughout 2012 and we're in positive talks with potential wholesale partners to ensure a fantastic experience for all Tube passengers throughout 2012 and beyond."