If you are in London and planning to travel through the underground rail system, then you will be happy to know that all the four major telecom operators in the United Kingdom (UK) now offer 4G services underground. Vodafone UK and Virgin Media O2 will share a neutral host mobile network in London’s underground rail system to now provide 4G services.
Virgin Media O2 said that it had reached an agreement with BAI Communications that will enable customers to access high-speed 4G and 5G-ready mobile connectivity inside the tunnels built for train commute.
For the unaware, BAI Communications, one of the leading companies and experts in building a shared communications infrastructure, was awarded a 20-year concession by TFL (Transport for London) in June 2021 for delivering mobile connectivity underground.
This will give both Vodafone UK as well as Virgin Media O2 customers the ability to stay connected to the fast-moving world of the internet even inside the Tube. BT-owned EE and CK Hutchison’s 3 UK had announced 4G service underground last year.
5G Services Will Also Soon Arrive for London Underground Rail System
One of the biggest benefits of this would be that the 4G networks would also support UK’s Emergency Services Network (ESN). London is also a very popular global tourist spot. This will enable the tourists to get a seamless network experience regardless of what they are doing in London.
Note that 5G services aren’t switched on for these underground networks right now. But that shouldn’t really be an issue right now as for a limited number of people who travel from the train, 4G networks are enough to handle capacity. Regardless, in the coming years, all the telcos will also look to offer 5G network services underground.
The performance of the 4G networks underground is unknown at the current moment. What do you think about fast-mobile networks made for people travelling underground?
