London Underground offered free mobile network ahead of Olympics

Chinese company Huawei offers installation as a gift from one host nation to another

London's underground system could have mobile connectivity in place for the 2012 Olympics.

Chinese telecoms provider Huawei has offered to provide and install a mobile network free of charge.

Huawei has confirmed in a statement that the project is a means of expanding its presence in the UK market, and has pitched the bid as a gift from one host nation to another.

The company has guaranteed the work will be completed by next summer if the proposal is successful.

While equipment for the mobile network would be provided free of charge, tube operator Transport for London stressed that such a network would still have to be funded by the mobile network companies, due to its own financial constraints.