Following on from the Elizabeth line stations receiving mobile coverage underground earlier this year, Transport for London (TfL) has now announced that the first tunnelled section has high speed mobile coverage – as passengers can access 4G and 5G while travelling between Liverpool Street and Paddington.
The UK is looking at how it can improve its connectivity for the railway network. Recently, Blu Wireless announced it had secured investment for improving connectivity on high-speed trains.
The Elizabeth Line, which opened in 2022, marked its two-year anniversary on the 24th May 2024. The TfL reported that it had become the fastest-growing railway line in the UK, having witnessed more than 350 million journeys, and passenger demand grew by 40% between June 2022 and October 2023.
“The Elizabeth line has been a game-changer for our city, transforming travel across London and the South East and delivering a £42bn boost to the UK economy,” said Mayor of London Sadiq Khan in the announcement.
TfL’s key partner in bringing connectivity to the underground stations is Boldwyn Networks, who was given a 20-year concession by TfL in June 2021 to deliver high-speed 5G mobile connection across the London Underground network.
They are working to introduce high-speed 4G and 5G connectivity across the Tube, DLR and Elizabeth line network as well as on the London Overground between Highbury and Islington.
Four mobile networks – Three UK, EE, Vodafone and Virgin Media O2 – are all taking part in the rollout.
As well as enabling travellers to stay connected, it will also facilitate better connectivity for rail and Tube staff to pass on information and host the new Emergency Services Network (ESN).
500 people are working on the project overnight to install mobile equipment. Once completed, more than 2000 kilometres of cabling and thousands of radios will be installed within tunnels and stations.
Andy Lord, London’s Transport Commissioner called it a “key step” in bringing better connectivity to the underground stations and tunnels. “This key step in bringing better connectivity to London’s underground stations and tunnels will allow more people travelling around the capital to keep in touch, share photos and make the most of the city, especially as we start to enjoy the summer,” he said.
“Young Londoners are already some of the most geographically mobile in the country thanks to extensive public transport here in the capital. Mobile coverage on the Elizabeth line and the Tube is a welcome addition to this offering,” said Amir Dawoodbhai, on the Executive Committee of TfL’s Youth Panel.
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