Underground WiFi

[jbusto94]

Hi Team,

I have an O2 account (I'm logged in now) but my phone number is on a sky network. I understood that anyone who has an O2 account can access underground wifi through the Virgin Media service that works with O2? Whenever I select O2 on this virgin media platform and enter my number, I get an error message that says I'm not registered with O2. Is this a problem many people are having?

Thanks,

Julia

[MI5 · Accepted solution]

Depending on where you are in the underground, some hotspots are free for everyone but others are wifi extra sites which are only for O2 customers.
Best way to sort it is to register for wifi in somewhere like McDonalds first, then your phone will auto connect to all free O2 hotspots from there onwards.

[adamtemp64]

https://www.o2.co.uk/termsandconditions/other-products-and-services/o2-wifi-london-underground-terms... says 6. In order to use the service, you must be an existing O2 mobile customer so if on sky mobile it will not work 

[Anonymous]

You get free WiFi on Tube (stations) with the four major network operators ** as well as Virgin Media (Broadband, Telephony(Fixed+Cellular) & TV) who do the cabling. Virgin Mobile is the only MVNO*** who offers it for free - I guess the others at the cheaper end of the market may opt for it, but I wouldn't hold my breath. BT Mobile & Sky Mobile are also MVNO's (Of EE & O2) but are also Virgin Media's two main competitors, so I can't see either offering it any time soon (BT) or ever (Sky)

** have there own masts. 

*** Mobile Virtual Network Operators - don't have their own masts and buy access in bulk from network operators.

[EmilieT]

Hi @jbusto94, and welcome to the forum  Did the info above help you access WiFi underground better? 

[jbusto94]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply. I’m afraid I’m still having trouble connecting to the underground WiFi. I find it interesting that I’m able to connect to general O2 hot spots but unable to connect to the virgin media portal to O2. This hot spot is more prevalent than the general O2 one so I’d appreciate any advice on this.

Thanks,
Julia

[MI5]

As explained above, you need to be an o2 customer to connect to the WiFi extra hotspots.

[Tofolo_1]

Hi

The O2 Wifi service in McDonalds, bars etc is free for anyone to use and its owned and installed by O2 so they allow anyone to use it. The Underground is a different service thats owned by Virgin and its up to your mobile provider to set that up with Virgin for you use. So just cause a 3, vod, ee customer can use O2 wifi this does not mean they can use Virgin Wifi. O2 set up a deal with Virgin for thier customers as did 3, vde, ee etc. 

As you are a sky customer they would need to agree (and pay) virgin for you to access the underground. And while Sky use the O2 masts that does not mean sky customers are actually on O2. They are just renting space on the network. so you dont get all the benafits of being with O2 as you are not with O2. Just like O2 customers dont get banafits of being with Sky. 

[Cleoriff]

Hi @Tofolo_1  Really great to see you back. Thanks for your advice as well