China gives £50 million in aid so mobile phones work on underground by the Olympics

China to give Britain £50m in aid so mobile phones work on the Underground by the Olympics
By Daily Mail Reporter
UPDATED: 10:42, 21 February 2011
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London Mayor: Boris Johnson is backing the plans
Passengers travelling on the London Underground could soon be using their mobile phones to make calls and send text messages.

Chinese telecoms company Huawei has offered to install a £50m phone network in the Underground as a gift from one Olympic nation to another.
The idea is being backed by London Mayor Boris Johnson but security chiefs fear the move could increase the risk of terrorism.
‘In the event of a terrorist attack, putting a mobile network on the underground would be extremely helpful,’ said Patrick Mercer MP and former chairman of the counter-terrorism subcommittee.
‘But it absolutely answers a terrorist’s prayers – to be able to detonate devices on the Underground.'
According to the Sunday Times mobile transmitters would be installed along the ceilings of tunnels so that commuters can make and receive calls for the first time on the Underground.
Huawei first needs to reach an agreement with Thales, one of the Underground’s engineering contractors and TfL, which is chaired by Mr Johnson.
It is believed Thales have been working closely with the Chinese company to create transmitters which will not increase heat during the summer months.
Mobile phone giants Vodafone and O2 have both agreed to pay for installation work while Huawei, one of the world’s biggest telecoms equipment firms, would hope to make an income from maintenance fees.
Commuters at Bond Street tube station on the Central Line could soon be calling from Underground
The deal is expected to be finalised in April and it is likely the Central, Jubilee and parts of the Piccadilly line will be ready in time for the 2012 Olympics, with the intention of expanding it further later.
A Transport for London (TfL) Spokesman said: 'TfL and the Mayor of London are currently in discussion with mobile phone operators and other suppliers about the potential provision of mobile phone services on the deep Tube network.
'Given the financial pressures on TfL’s budgets, any solution would need to be funded through mobile operators with no cost to fare or taxpayers. Discussions are ongoing.'
Passengers in Hong Kong are currently able to use their mobile phones underground
Huawei runs networks for the Chinese military and has come under suspicion in America where it has struggled to win any significant contracts.
It hopes the move in Britain will help the company win more contracts.

Huawei has previously installed network’s for BT and intelligence chiefs have warned that it could have the capability to cripple Britain by shutting down its utilities and telecoms systems.
Mobile phone networks are currently in use in Paris and Hong Kong.
Huawei and Thales both declined to comment.
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Was this in return for China supplying 84% of Olympic Gifts????????