Mobile phone signal underground: a whole new tube etiquette will be needed

Whose stupid idea is it to consider opening up mobile phone signals on the London Underground? 

While I touch on this in The Little Book of Tube Etiquette, we would need a whole new book to cover all the misdemeanours possible about this situation.

Aside from the obvious security concerns (it is well known that phone signals can remotely detonate explosives) this situation will also cause widespread discomfort for those that don't have their mobile phones permanently glued to their ears. 

Those who live outside of zone 2 will be used to hearing the screeching gossip, ridiculous 80s theme tune ring tones and repeated 'hellos' when the signal starts fading but it is always a pleasure when we approach central London and the signal finally becomes no more and we don't have to put up with this for the last few minutes before we get to work.

Now, I don't know about you, but I relish the last minutes of my personal space before I have to get to work and put on my polite face.  This is also partly why we don't speak to colleagues that we 'bump' into on the tube on the way to work.

This personal space is already vastly fading with the crammed tube carriages, filled with people's deafening music, over the shoulder Metro readers (sometimes also tube perverts), public displays of affection and body odour - which is especially pleasant in rush hour with your nose against an unwashed armpit.

Add to the mix a throng of people bent out of shape to get on the carriage with their mobiles glued to their ears and shouting down the phone and I'm pretty certain our commute to work is not going to get any more pleasant!

I think we need to start a petition to prevent this situation arising. I already have plenty of ammunition for blogs and tube etiquette without this can of worms being opened.