Karmactive Staff
London’s Tube network is getting more connected as Transport for London (TfL) and Boldyn Networks expand 4G and 5G coverage to more sections of the underground. The latest rollout brings mobile service to new areas of the Northern, Victoria, and Piccadilly lines, marking significant progress in a citywide digital upgrade.
Where Can You Now Use Your Phone?
Mobile coverage has been extended on the Northern line between Euston and Bank on the Bank branch, with the tunneled section between Balham and South Wimbledon also gaining coverage. Stations including Kennington, Oval, Tooting Broadway, and South Wimbledon are now connected.
Passengers traveling along the Northern line from South Wimbledon to Stockwell now have continuous coverage, with work underway to extend service down to Morden and up to Kennington by the end of summer 2025. On the Victoria line, coverage is now being rolled out between Vauxhall and Pimlico.
This follows earlier expansions on the Piccadilly and Victoria lines up to King’s Cross St Pancras, while the Elizabeth line achieved full 4G coverage last year.
What’s Coming Next?
In the coming months, mobile coverage will begin expanding along the Jubilee line, starting at Swiss Cottage and working its way along to connect with existing coverage at Westminster. Major interchange stations such as Green Park and King’s Cross St Pancras, plus sections of the Victoria line from Green Park to Brixton, will also get high-speed mobile coverage for the first time.
The Technology Behind the Scenes
Boldyn Networks (formerly BAI Communications) was awarded a 20-year concession by TfL in June 2021 to deliver high-speed connectivity across the entire London Underground network. All four major UK mobile operators – Three UK, EE, Vodafone, and Virgin Media O2 – are participating in the rollout.
Similar Posts
The installation is no small feat. Hundreds of workers operate overnight during the few available engineering hours to install thousands of radios and over 2,000 kilometers of cabling throughout tunnels and stations without disrupting daily service.
Benefits Beyond Browsing
The expanded coverage offers more than just the ability to check emails or stream videos. The Deputy Mayor for Transport, Seb Dance, emphasized that this rollout helps deliver “the Mayor’s commitment to rolling out 4G and 5G across the whole Tube network, building a better London for everyone.”
The network will also host the new Emergency Services Network (ESN), giving first responders immediate access to critical information during emergencies underground. TfL staff will benefit from improved communication capabilities to help ensure safe and reliable operation of the network.
Rebecca Bissell, Director of Technology Product and Operations at TfL, confirmed that work will continue throughout 2025 and 2026 to introduce coverage across the entire Tube, DLR and Elizabeth line network, including the Windrush line between Highbury & Islington and New Cross.
The project represents a significant step in London’s digital transformation, turning one of the world’s oldest underground railway systems into one of its most connected.
