5G network

High-speed mobile coverage spreads across London Underground

Six London Underground stations will see the further rollout of high-speed mobile coverage for passengers, coming as the next stage of the Transport for London (TfL) and BAI Communications’ (BAI) ambitious project to provide the Tube network with complete coverage.

The coverage will be extending to:

  • Between Holland Park and Queensway on the Central line, seeing 4G and 5G mobile coverage from 21st December 2022.
  • Between Kentish Town and Archway on the Northern line going live in the coming week.

The enhanced coverage will be available throughout stations in ticket halls and platforms, as well as in tunnels between those stations, allowing customers to get the latest travel information.

The Deputy Mayor for Transport, Seb Dance, said:

 “Today marks a great step forward in the delivery of mobile connectivity on the Tube, as Londoners will now have increased access to high-speed mobile coverage when travelling through more Tube stations. The Mayor pledged to Londoners that he would deliver 4G throughout the Tube network as part of his commitment to building a better London for everyone - and I have no doubt that this expansion of coverage will help transform journeys for millions of passengers."

Four of the UK’s major mobile network operators - Three UK, EE, Vodafone, and Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) – are taking part with this rollout, with customers on EE and Vodafone being able to access coverage from today, with customers on Three UK and VMO2 gaining access in the new year.

One the coverage is fully delivered; more than 2,000 kilometres of cabling will be accompanied with the installation of thousands of radios within the tunnels and stations. The works for installations will be conducted by a 500 people strong workforce, working overnight across the network to ensure as little disruption as possible to passenger travel.

Throughout the festive period, extensive testing will be undertaken at a variety of London’s busiest stations, including Oxford Circus, Tottenham Court Road and Camden Town, to prepare for the upcoming mobile coverage that will start in the new year.

This programme will aid the millions of visitors that traverse the West End every year to navigate through the capital, supplying a major boost to the accessibility and enhancing the passenger experience. By the end of 2024, all Tube stations, as well as the Elizabeth line, will have 4G and 5G-ready coverage.

Shashi Verma, Chief Technology Officer at TfL, said:

“It’s great that we have begun to introduce 4G mobile coverage to more stations, meaning that around ten per cent of our stations that are underground will shortly be connected. Progress on delivery is accelerating and together with BAI Communications and the mobile network operators we will connect many of London’s busiest stations during 2023 - transforming experience for millions of our customers and helping them stay connected while shopping, visiting events and socialising with friends and family.”

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