Glasgow is set to introduce the UK's first mobile phone service for underground commuters in a move it hopes will attract banks to the International Financial Services District (IFSD).
The IFDS hopes it can steal a march on other finance centres like London's Canary Wharf by enabling commuters to make calls, send texts, e-mail and access mobile Internet while on subway station concourses and platforms across the city.
Jim Watson, director, company growth, Scottish Enterprise, says Glasgow is home to 30,000 financial services personnel, over half of which 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," says Watson.
Launched in 2001, the IFSD is a £750 million project designed to attract finance firms to Glasgow. Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, esure, Direct Line, ACE, First Data, Barclays and National Australia Group have all opened offices in the area.