Virgin Media has confirmed its Wi-Fi service on the London Underground will remain free until the end of 2012.
The wireless connections, which are now available in 72 tube stations, were only meant to be free for the duration of the Olympic Games, after which only Virgin Media or Virgin Mobile customers would be able to connect for nothing.
Now Virgin Media has decided to extend the availability of this free service, where users only have to provide an email address to gain access, until the end of the year.
"Wi-Fi at tube stations is proving to be a very popular service, with up-to-the-minute travel information and journey planners at passengers' fingertips," said Gareth Powell, London Underground's director of strategy and service development.
"There are already 72 London Underground stations online, and our engineers are working in partnership with Virgin Media to continue the roll-out in 2012."
Virgin Media is also in talks with prospective partners so that when 2013 hits, travellers who don't have a contract with Virgin can still get online.
"Wi-Fi on London Underground has been an incredible success, with hundreds of thousands of people kept up-to-date and entertained while travelling around our capital city," said Jon James, executive director of broadband at Virgin Media.
"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."
Virgin Media claimed more than 661,000 passengers had signed up to the Wi-Fi service and in excess of one million individual online transactions took place on its busiest day.
