Commuters to Glasgow's International Financial Services District
(IFSD) are the UK's first city workers to be able to use their
mobile phones while travelling underground.
Whereas commuters to Canary Wharf and the City of London have to
put their lives on hold when taking the tube, the thousands of
people from across the world who work in Glasgow's International
Financial Services District can now make calls, send texts, e-mail
and access the mobile internet while on subway station concourses
and platforms across Glasgow.
The opportunity to stay in touch in Glasgow applies to all
mobile users on the O2 network, after coverage on the subway
went live in December.
Jim Watson, director for company growth at Scottish Enterprise,
said, "Glasgow is investing heavily in providing world class
communications and infrastructure support for its 30,000 financial
services personnel, over half of whom work within the IFSD.
"The City Council and Scottish Enterprise work with businesses
to establish what they need to improve their commercial
competitiveness, and state of the art mobile communications is one
of the key requirements for modern employers."
Other recent infrastructure and communications initiatives
supported by Glasgow's IFSD, Scottish Enterprise and the City
Council include a £50m investment in broadband networks, and a
new pedestrian bridge across the Clyde connecting the IFSD to
the city's southbank.
There is also the completion of the M74, improving road links in
Glasgow, and a new rail link connecting Glasgow airport and the
city centre.
In addition, £31m has been invested in state of the art
facilities at Glasgow airport.