The desperate dash to connect to the station WiFi at each and every stop of your commute is soon to be a thing of the past as this week, many more Central London stations have become the proud recipients of super-speedy mobile coverage.
Paddington, Whitechapel, Canary Wharf, and Woolwich are amongst the most recent stations to receive high-speed internet – making the Elizabeth Line the first line on the transport network to have mobile coverage at all of its underground stations. TfL are also currently working to deliver coverage in the tunneled sections of the Lizzie line, with an aim for the first section of the tunnel (between Bond Street and Liverpool Street) to receive coverage in the coming month.
Passengers on other lines across the network are also beginning to benefit from 4G and 5G, with Covent Garden becoming the first station on the Piccadilly Line to get the sweet, sweet signal. And the good news doesn’t stop there. The very first section of coverage has also been introduced on the Victoria line, between Euston and Warren Street. More stations and tunneled sections of the lines throughout central London will be getting coverage this month.
Currently, around 25% of the capital’s underground tube stations have 4G or 5G. TfL are aiming for this figure to rise to 80% by the end of 2024, and have created a map which highlights the network’s expected coverage by the end of this summer.
Line testing has been completed to ensure that the introduction of 4G and 5G coverage would not have an impact on existing safety systems on the network. Around 500 people are currently working through the night to install the necessary cables, radios and mobile equipment across London Underground tunnels and stations.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “This is yet another step towards ensuring Londoners and visitors can stay connected on our 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.
Khan continued: “Now, customers can access the latest travel information, keep in touch with colleagues, friends and family, use social media and stream music at every station along the Elizabeth line. This is just one of the many ways we are supporting Londoners as we build a better, fairer and more prosperous London for everyone.”
Gone are the days of having to twiddle your thumbs or – heaven forbid – have an actual conversation on the tube. Yes, you may still be squished against the armpit of a fellow passenger at 7am, but at least now you’ll be able to complete your daily Wordle at the same time. Swings and roundabouts, hey?
Find out more about TfL’s underground mobile coverage plans here.