In a bid to enhance connectivity and ensure seamless communication for commuters, a growing number of London Tube and Elizabeth Line stations now boast 4G or 5G internet access, with plans for further expansion underway.
All Elizabeth Line stations, including key hubs like Paddington, Canary Wharf, Whitechapel, and Woolwich, have been equipped with 4G mobile coverage. Efforts are also underway to extend coverage within the tunnelled sections of the Elizabeth Line, marking significant progress in the ongoing modernization of London’s transport infrastructure.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan hailed this development as another milestone in the city’s journey towards providing comprehensive mobile coverage across its transport network. I promised that customers would be able to access high-speed mobile coverage at all stations and in tunnels, and I’m pleased to see how quickly the team are moving to enable 4G and 5G connectivity,” Mayor Khan stated.
Currently, commuters can enjoy uninterrupted connectivity at every station along the Elizabeth Line, facilitating easy access to travel information, media streaming, and staying in touch with contacts while on the move.
The initiative, a collaboration between TfL and Boldyn Networks, ensures that mobile coverage is delivered without compromising existing safety systems. Covent Garden station on the Piccadilly Line has already been equipped with mobile coverage, alongside the Victoria Line’s tunnelled section between Euston and Warren Street.
Looking ahead, more tunnels and stations are slated to receive coverage during the summer months. The southern end of the Northern Line, spanning from Stockwell to Morden, and the Bakerloo Line are scheduled to join the ranks of connected stations next month.
Shashi Verma, Chief Technology Officer at TfL, expressed optimism about the project’s progress, stating that the programme is “gathering pace” to bring the benefits of connectivity to commuters across the city.
Currently, around 31 out of 121 Tube stations that are underground now offer mobile coverage, representing 25 per cent of underground stations and two-thirds of all stations on the Tube network when combined with above-ground stations.
TfL has set an ambitious goal to achieve around 80 per cent mobile coverage across the entire Tube network and the entire Elizabeth Line by the end of 2024.
Billy D’Arcy, CEO of UK & Ireland at Boldyn Networks, emphasized the importance of connectivity in creating a safer and smarter city. With further expansion of connectivity throughout the summer period, this will help to create a safer and smarter city for residents, businesses, and visitors,” D’Arcy noted, highlighting the positive impact of enhanced connectivity on London’s urban landscape
