Customers on London’s Tube network will have full mobile network coverage by 2024 as 4G is rolled out across the Underground, the mayor of London has promised.
Transport for London (TfL) has awarded a 20-year concession to BAI Communications (BAI) which will enable mobile coverage on the whole Tube network. The operator said this will help to remove one of the most high-profile mobile ‘not-spots’ in the UK.
It follows the introduction of 4G mobile coverage in the eastern half of the Jubilee line and will be expanded in phases to ticket halls, platforms and tunnels on the Tube network over the next three years.
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I promised Londoners that if they re-elected me for a second term as mayor I would deliver 4G throughout the Tube network.
“Protecting jobs and stimulating our city’s economy is a top priority for me as London rebuilds after this pandemic and investing in London’s connectivity and digital infrastructure is central to this.”
London’s Tube tunnels will also be used to provide full fibre connectivity across the city, which can then be connected to buildings and street assets like street lighting and bus stops.
This will help to further increase mobile coverage through small mobile transmitters, the infrastructure will also be 5G ready allowing for an upgrade for mobile operators in the future.
Shashi Verma, chief technology officer at TfL, added: “London Underground was born in the 19th century, and this concession to deliver mobile coverage to the whole Tube network ensures it continues to adapt for customers in the 21st century.
“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.”
