Mobile phone coverage will soon be available in all ticket halls, on platforms, and in tunnels across London's Tube network.
Work is now underway to provide 4G connectivity on both trains and platforms during 2022. Mobile connectivity will be available on the Elizabeth line as soon as possible after it opens in the first half of 2022.
WiFi connectivity will be available within stations when the line opens and will be available within the tunnels later in the year.
Mobile phone operators Three and EE have joined the BAI Communications (BAI) network to provide 4G and 5G-ready mobile connectivity across the London Underground. BAI which has already been awarded a 20-year concession with Transport for London (TfL) to deliver mobile connectivity on the Underground, and the deal with Three and EE will give customers on the networks access to uninterrupted coverage whilst on the Tube and within the stations.
All mobile phone operators will be able to access the Underground WiFi, as well as BAI's neutral host mobile network, which can also be made available to the Emergency Services Network (ESN). The infrastructure will also be 5G-ready, allowing seamless upgrades in the future.
BAI was awarded the concession in June 2021, and work at some of London's busiest stations, including Oxford Circus, Tottenham Court Road, Bank, Euston and Camden Town, is underway to allow them to be connected by the end of 2022. High-quality and uninterrupted mobile coverage is due to be extended to all stations and tunnels across the Tube network by the end of 2024.
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, said “I”m delighted to see Three and EE sign up as the first operators to provide full high-speed 4G access across the tube network. This will make a huge difference to passengers, allowing them to make calls, read emails and check travel information while on the move.
“Investing in London”s connectivity and digital infrastructure is one important way we are helping to stimulate our city”s economy. It also represents a significant step towards ensuring the whole Tube network has 5G-ready mobile coverage.”
Billy D”Arcy, CEO of BAI Communications UK, said: “We're pleased to welcome Three and EE as our launch partners and the first operators who will be transforming customer experience on the London Underground by enabling them to access seamless, 5G-ready connectivity.
“This is an important next step on the project's journey which will allow passengers to move around the capital more smartly, safely, and securely.
“More broadly, the new backbone of connectivity will create a platform for innovation and allow London”s residents and businesses to harness smart city technology, helping to improve urban life and boost the economy.”
Three CEO, Robert Finnegan, said: “Three is delighted to be part of bringing even more connectivity to our customers in London. They will be able to enjoy smooth streaming, phone calls underground and continued seamless coverage while they travel, even in tunnels.”
Philip Jansen, Chief Executive of BT Group, said: “This is huge news for customers and for London, bringing EE”s coverage to previously unreachable parts of the city's transport system.
“This deal puts BT at the heart of plans to help London digitally leapfrog its rivals and maintain its status as a world-leading destination for tourists and businesses, as well as a home to millions of citizens.
“Our investment in the capital is part of our mission to digitise the entire UK, as we build like fury to expand our fibre and mobile networks further and faster than anyone else.”
Shashi Verma, Chief Technology Officer at TfL, said: “It is great that these first two mobile operators have now signed up to provide high-speed, uninterrupted 4G coverage across the London Underground network.
“Providing mobile connectivity to customers within the tunnels and on platforms across London will help them stay connected more easily and will both provide a long-term revenue stream for TfL and support economic growth across the city.”
Dr. Amy Hochadel, Director at Connected Places Catapult, said: “Technology offers solutions to many of the challenges that cities face today, and high-speed mobile connectivity is critical to ensuring that innovation can scale up to enable improvements in all aspects of life, from city planning and management to productivity and sustainability.
“This announcement is such exciting news for London, accelerating its smart city journey and establishing a framework that should be the foundation for all global cities striving to be digitally inclusive and improve the lives of its citizens.”
Whilst Transport for London is suffering financial problems.