Shenzhen Metro disruption leads to calls to ban Wi-Fi devices on subways

A subway operator in Shenzhen in Guangdong province is investigating whether passengers' portable Wi-Fi devices were the cause of a brief suspension of metro services on Thursday.

"Unknown signals", as the Shenzhen Metro Group put it, interrupted several trains on the city's Shekou line from 8:15 am to 9:30 am on Thursday, forcing many passengers to transfer to other lines. Others found themselves stranded.

The incident has attracted nationwide attention as more cities in China have started operating subway services. There has been much discussion as to whether portable Wi-Fi devices should be banned on metro lines to ensure their safe operation.