19.07.19
TfL announces 4G for London Underground in 2020
Transport for London (TfL) have announced that 4G will be available on parts of the London Underground from March 2020.
The eastern half of the Jubilee line will get full mobile connectivity within station platforms and tunnels for the first time, removing one of the most high-profile mobile 'not-spots' in the UK.
4G phone signal will allow commuters to check emails, talk to friends and browse social media while traveling through the tunnels or on Jubilee line platforms in east London.
Shashi Verma, Chief Technology Officer at TfL said: “The London Underground network is an incredibly challenging environment in which to deliver technological improvements, but we are now well on the path to delivering mobile connectivity within our stations and tunnels.
“We have begun the complex work to allow our customers to be able to get phone reception within our tunnels from March 2020, with more stations and lines coming online during the coming years.”
Hundreds of miles of cabling now installed across the network and TfL is in discussion with mobile network operators to ensure their customers can benefit when the first section goes live.
Next stage of procurement to make 4G services available across the rest of the network will commence shortly, allowing the whole of the London Underground network to have mobile connectivity by the mid-2020s.
Introduction key part of mayoral ambition to improve digital connectivity at home, in our high streets, public spaces, stations and now right across the transport network.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:
“I'm delighted that we will be introducing mobile connectivity to the London Underground from next March. This is a really important step for the millions of people who use the Tube each year.
“Introducing 4G and, in the future, 5G will help Londoners and visitors keep in touch and get the latest travel information while on the go. London is the best place to live, visit and work - and projects like this will help make it even better.”
The works are part of a range of measures announced by London mayor to boost connectivity across the capital.
The next stage of procurement for the concessionaire will begin shortly, with a look to award the contract by Summer 2020.