Transport for London has given up on plans to get mobile phones working underground.

TfL said the technology was available but it was unable to get anyone interested enough to pay to get the kit installed underground.

Betting on punters using the system to send texts and download data has obviously not tempted anyone.

A spokeswoman for TfL said: "London Underground tendered for a trial of mobile phones on the Waterloo and City line, but the market has yet to provide us with a credible proposal for enabling mobile phone use on the Tube.

"While it is technically possible to deploy mobile phone and data wireless solutions on the deep level Underground tunnels and stations, the unique nature and environment of the Tube mean that project costs would be prohibitively high at this time."

Prague and Newcastle both have full mobile access, but London was mulling "to the platform edge" access last time we checked in 2004 - so phones would work in stations but not on trains.

By 2005 TfL was claiming it had received more than 70 bids to install the technology required.

The idea was to split revenue from calls and texts between operators and TfL. ®

Related stories

• RFID goes Underground (7 May 2009)
• TfL keeps schtum on underground radio plans (6 June 2006)
• Phone networks jammed following London blasts (7 July 2005)
• London locks down after terror attack (7 July 2005)
• London Undergound to trial wireless services (1 June 2005)
• 60 companies want to wire up the Tube (16 May 2005)
• Mayor Ken touts mobile phone plan for the Tube (23 March 2005)