Vodafone customers using Notting Hill Gate station on the London Underground have started to receive Vodafone 5G signal, thanks to the latest phase of improvements to bring coverage to the wider Tube network.
The tunnels from Holland Park to Queensway on the Central Line, as well as Archway to Kentish Town on the Northern Line, are also expected to go live with Vodafone 5G by the weekend of 4 February 2023.
With its much higher speeds, Vodafone 5G is perfect for customers downloading box sets or movies. Its latency, or the time it takes it to connect, is lower. This ensures quicker downloads of work documents, while its increased capacity gives a more reliable signal, no matter how busy or crowded the station gets.
Theo Blackwell MBE, London’s Chief Digital Officer, said: “It’s great to see super high-speed 5G mobile connectivity now available at a number of Tube stations, proving that the state-of-the-art technology being installed across the network is already future-proofed and adaptable for the next generation of mobile signal.
“The Mayor committed to Londoners that we would deliver 4G throughout the Tube network as part of his determination to build a better London for everyone, and today marks the latest step forward as we work to improve digital connectivity at home, in our high streets, public spaces and across the transport network.”
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Andrea Dona, Vodafone’s UK Chief Network Officer, said: “Our mission is to take connectivity everywhere and anywhere, so we are thrilled to switch on 5G connectivity on the London Underground network. Notting Hill Gate is only the latest step as we bring the benefits of our network to other platforms and tunnels across the Tube.”
The news comes just over a month after Vodafone 4G arrived at stations on both the Northern line and Central line as part of an ongoing programme with Transport for London (TfL) and BAI Communications (BAI),
In June 2021, TfL awarded BAI a 20-year concession to deliver mobile connectivity on the Tube. BAI’s work on the wider Connected London programme will also see the installation of digital infrastructure across the capital, forming a backbone of connectivity. A full-fibre network will connect to buildings and street assets, such as traffic lights and lampposts, and harness the power of 5G and the Internet of Things to drive forward London’s ambition to become a truly smart city.
Vodafone was named the most reliable network in London, as well as best network for voice in London, based on measurements from the umlaut connect Mobile Network Benchmark in December 2022.
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