EE joins London Tube 4G mobile trial

EE has joined the trials to offer mobile reception to passengers in London Underground stations and tunnels.

The operator has signed an agreement with Transport for London (TfL) to bring 4G connectivity to a section of the Tube for the first time. The trial, now encompassing all the UK’s main network providers, aims to pave the way for a wider network roll-out across all the Underground in the coming years, providing network signal to the five million commuters who use the service every day.

As part of the trial, the service aims to go live in March 2020 and will be available to customers of all of EE’s mobile virtual network operator partners.

The trial section will cover the platforms and tunnels between Westminster and Canning Town on the Jubilee Line, covering ticket halls and corridors within stations along this section, with the exception of London Bridge and Waterloo stations which, subject to final approval, will be added later in 2020.

Marc Allera, CEO of EE parent BT Consumer, said: “We are delighted to formally join the TfL 4G on the Underground trial, connecting our customers between Westminster and Canning Town. This trial is the start of a huge step forward for London.”

Shashi Verma, chief technology officer at TfL, added: “It’s great that EE have signed up to bring their 4G network to Jubilee Line customers. The London Underground network is an incredibly challenging environment in which to deliver technological improvements, but we remain on course for customers to start benefiting from our pilot from March 2020.”