• Home
  • News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Internet of Things
  • Open Source
  • Hardware
  • Software
  • Security
  • Whitepapers
  • Industry Voice
  • Data Strategy Spotlight
  • Newsletters
  • Whitepapers
    • Inqlogo 120x194
      Five things you should look for in choosing a Testing provider

      Choosing a Testing Partner can be complex.  So what do you look for?  This guide offers insight into the qualities you must look for in choosing a Testing provider.  Download now to learn more.

      Download
      Inqlogo 120x194
      Your questions answered: How to protect your data in the cloud

      The number of successful cyberattacks per year per company has increased by 46% over the last four years. But what really needs to be considered when exploring a solution? What questions need to be asked? Download to find out...

      Download
      Find whitepapers
      Search by title or subject area
      View all whitepapers
  • Follow us
    • Twitter
    • Newsletters
    • Facebook
  • Newsletter
  • Industry Voice
  • Data Strategy Spotlight
The Inquirer
The Inquirer
  • Home
  • News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Internet of Things
  • Open Source
  • Hardware
  • Software
  • Security
  • Trending
  • General election
  • Huawei sues FCC
  • Xerox vs HP
  • Galaxy S11
  • McAfee 2020
The Inquirer
  • Hardware

4G is coming to the London Underground next year

YouTube on the Tube

4G is coming to the London Underground next year
No need to make human connections any more, friends. Why don't you watch YouTube instead?
  • Alan Martin
  • Alan Martin
  • @alan_p_martin
  • 19 July 2019
  • Tweet  
  • Facebook  
  •  
  •  
  • Send to  
0 Comments

THAT MAD DASH to connect to Virgin WiFi between London underground stops will soon be a thing of the past. Well, if you use the Jubilee Line, anyway.

Transport for London (TfL) has confirmed that 4G will hit most of the Jubilee Line (the silver one, with Wembley on it) in March 2020, with other lines following in over the next few years. 

This does, of course, open up the possibility that people chatting away on crowded carriages will be added to Londoners' Tube gripes - right up there with people wearing rucksacks during rush hour - but at least it'll give us something else to tut about from a passive-aggressively safe distance.

"People could have their commute interrupted," TfL's Mark Bulle admitted to the Guardian.  "But at the end of the day it's up to people whether they take the call from their boss."  

Also, since when did Londoners enjoy talking while commuting? If anything, we're more likely to use the newfound connectivity as another excuse not to share the human experience with our neighbours. Especially as the speeds should be fast enough for live streaming of sports, according to Bulle.

You may wonder why it's taken so long for mobile signals to come to the tunnels, given other cities have had it for years. The problem stems from the age and narrowness of the tunnels that make up the London Underground. The way around this is a system of "leaky feeders" - running cables through the network that act as oversized aerials. 

The only question that remains is "who's paying?" And that's an open question. While TfL is picking up the tab for the first line between Canning Town and Westminster, it's planning on outsourcing contracts to a private operator for the rest. UK networks will then pay for access, with TFL gaining a slice of the profits.

No plans for 5G as too much equipment would be required, but it's better than nothing, eh? µ

Further reading

  • Cellular
4G will roll into the London Underground in 2019
  • 27 Nov 2017
  • Cellular
London mayor pledges 4G coverage for underground commuters by 2019
  • 10 Aug 2017
  • Communications
TfL is bringing mobile coverage to the London Underground
  • 31 May 2017
  • Software
Google's DeepMind learns how to navigate the London Underground
  • 13 Oct 2016
  • Tweet  
  • Facebook  
  •  
  •  
  • Send to  
  • Topics
  • Hardware
  • tube
  • 4G
  • london underground
  • TfL
  • london

INQ Latest

Comet Lake-S leaks keep hitting earth
Intel Comet Lake-S leak teases AMD-chasing six-core Core i5-10600

Hype for HyperThreading

  • Chips
  • 13 December 2019
Apple's parental controls in iOS 13.3 can be easily bypassed
Apple's parental controls in iOS 13.3 can be easily bypassed

Hey kids, leave them iPhones alone

  • Software
  • 13 December 2019
Opera GX brings gaming-led browsing to macOS
Opera GX brings gaming-led browsing to macOS

The Mac lady sings

  • Software
  • 13 December 2019
Google Assistant gets 'Interpreter Mode' on iOS and Android
Google Assistant gets 'Interpreter Mode' on iOS and Android

Babel in yo ear

  • Software
  • 13 December 2019
Back to Top

Most read

Apple's iPhone 12 won't see a significant price increase, claims Kuo
Apple's iPhone 12 won't see a significant price increase, claims analyst
Comet Lake-S leaks keep hitting earth
Intel Comet Lake-S leak teases AMD-chasing six-core Core i5-10600
FTC might order Facebook to stop integrating Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp
FTC might order Facebook to stop merger of Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp
Windows 7 goes end-of-life in a month
Windows 7 goes end-of-life in a month
Galaxy S11 specs, release date and price: In-the-wild images show chunky camera hump
Galaxy S11 specs, release date and price: In-the-wild images show chunky camera hump
  • Contact
  • Marketing solutions
  • Enterprise IT Events
  • Incisive Media
  • Terms & conditions
  • Policies
  • Careers
  • Twitter
  • Newsletters
  • Facebook

© Incisive Business Media (IP) Limited, Published by Incisive Business Media Limited, New London House, 172 Drury Lane, London WC2B 5QR, registered in England and Wales with company registration numbers 09177174 & 09178013

Digital publisher of the year
Digital publisher of the year 2010, 2013, 2016 & 2017