2024 is set to be the year that the entirety of the London Underground will have mobile reception including the stations and lines.
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, has announced that the more popular stations, including Oxford Circus, Tottenham Court Road, Bank, Euston, and Camden Town will have reception as early as 2022.
This announcement follows the eastern half of the jubilee line, between Westminster and Canning Town, receiving 4G coverage just a year ago.
Transport for London (TFL) as announced the upcoming infrastructure will also support 5G networks in addition to the current 4G availability.
However, it is up to the mobile operators themselves to offer support for next Gen networks, if the providers are unable to offer 5G or your handset cannot support 5G, you will not receive 5G.
Sadiq Khan stated, “I promised Londoners that if they re-elected me for a second term as mayor I would deliver 4G throughout the tube network.”
“It’s already up and running on the eastern half of the Jubilee line and I’m delighted to announce today that I am fulfilling that commitment and full internet access will be available across the tube, with key central London stations such as Oxford Circus and Euston set to benefit before the end of next year.”
TFL will be working with BAI communications in order to offer the coverage across the entire underground network.
This will involve playing 1242 miles of cabling throughout the tunnels and stations beneath London.
in addition to the additional coverage being offered from the ground, the eventual aim for the project is to improve mobile coverage in the city.
The fibre network due to be installed in the underground will also be connected to buildings and other infrastructure like street lighting and bus stops, therefore allowing small mobile transmitters in these areas to increase coverage.
