London Mayor Sadiq Khan has revealed plans to provide the London Underground with full 4G coverage by 2019.
The Mayor said mobile connectivity would be available on platforms and tunnels, echoing promises that have been made numerous times before.
This time, however, there may be hope. Khan is proposing to instal the 4G capabilities as part of a planned network upgrade for emergency services.
The work involves turning off an old trunked radio system – set to be shut down before 2020 – and installing a new Emergency Services Network (ESN).
Related: What is 5G?
The new network will be managed by EE and is capable of providing both 4G and 5G service, with Khan hoping to extend these capabilities to commuters.
Khan’s plans were delivered, along with a full package of other targets for the city, to all 33 London local authorities.
“If we are to remain competitive in the global economy, we need to ensure every Londoner is able to access a fast and reliable digital connection,” Khan said.
“That means working to boost connectivity across London – tackling not-spots, delivering connectivity in the London Underground and working with local authorities to provide digital infrastructure fitting of a global tech hub.”
The Mayor also said in the outline that he wants “mobile connectivity on the London Underground, both in stations and tunnels by 2019, future-proofed ready for 5G.”
Whether or not the 2019 deadline will be met remains unclear, with Transport for London saying it’s not “absolutely confident” it can deliver on time.
As it stands, some customers can make use of Wi-Fi at platforms and on escalators, but not in tunnels.
The new Elizabeth Line will, however, have mobile connectivity as soon as it launches in December 2018.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
