O2 Airwave pulls into Tube emergency radio deal

Police officers, firefighters and ambulance staff will finally be able to use their radios in London's underground tube tunnels from 2008, solving the problems emergency service crew faced in the aftermath of 2005's July 7 suicide bombings on London's transport system.

Emergency communications provider O2 Airwave said on Friday it had won a £115m contract to link the emergency services' radio system to London Underground's new digital system.

Problems with the emergency services' communications were highlighted on July 7, 2005 when suicide bombers struck three tube trains and a bus, killing 52 commuters, and firemen, ambulance crew and police officers were unable to use their radios in the deep underground tunnels.

Telefonica subsidiary O2 Airwave, which has been put up for sale by its Spanish owners, said the first tube line will be connected by April and whole system should be up and running by 2008.

As reported on Friday, the Welsh Ambulance Service has teamed up with O2 Airwave and SunGuard Vivista to implement a new £32m network that will enable it to liaise more closely with other front line workers.

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