The Elizabeth line through Central London between Liverpool Street and Paddington now has the benefit of high-speed 4G and 5G mobile coverage.
Coverage will be extended through the tunnelled sections to Whitechapel during the next few weeks and to Canary Wharf and Woolwich by the end of this summer.
Elsewhere on the Underground network mobile coverage is being extended, with Hyde Park Corner and Russell Square recently being connected and more of the Northern line, Bakerloo line, Piccadilly line, and Victoria line expected to go live in the coming month.
Transport for London and its contractor Boldyn Networks are implementing high-speed 4G and 5G mobile coverage across all the Tube, Docklands Light Railway, and Elizabeth line, and between Highbury and Islington and New Cross on the London Overground.
Mobile operators Three UK, EE, Vodafone, and Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) are all taking part in the rollout.
As well as the eight Elizabeth line stations across Central London, mobile coverage is being extended to cover ticket halls, platform areas, and interchanges at 36 Tube stations.
By the end of this summer, many more, including the southern end of the Northern line, are expected to go live.
Around 30 per cent of ‘underground' Tube stations, and with the above-ground Tube stations, nearly 70 percent of all stations on the Tube network now have mobile coverage.
Although the aim is for most of the Tube network to have 4G and 5G mobile coverage by the end of 2024, work will continue on some sections of the Tube throughout next year, mainly on sections of the Circle and District line where a number of stations which already have limited mobile coverage.
It ‘s wonderful to see our programme to introduce high-speed mobile coverage now benefitting customers on the Elizabeth line, the newest part of London's historic underground network of stations and tunnels.
This key step in bringing better connectivity to London's underground stations and tunnels will allow more people travelling around the capital to keep in touch, share photos and make the most of the city, especially as we start to enjoy the summer.
Andy Lord, London's Transport Commissioner
Following the success of all underground Elizabeth line stations being connected, we're delighted that TfL customers are now starting to enjoy 4G and 5G coverage in the tunnels. This will benefit a huge number of passengers travelling between Liverpool Street and Paddington, including tourists travelling through central London this summer, as progress continues on the rollout of our new digital infrastructure for London.
Billy D Arcy, CEO of UK & Ireland at Boldyn Networks
Young Londoners are already some of the most geographically mobile in the country thanks to extensive public transport here in the capital. Mobile coverage on the Elizabeth line and the Tube is a welcome addition to this offering. It enhances perceptions of safety, accessibility and general user-friendliness as young people start to experience London independently for the first time, helping to guide them through what can sometimes feel like a complex transport system.
Amir Dawoodbhai, 23, member of the Executive Committee of TfL's Youth Panel
Getting signal on the Elizabeth line is a game changer. It will massively benefit students at UCL and across London, many of whom commute to campus each day. Most importantly, the ability to make calls and access the internet during journeys across London will help improve students' safety across the network.
Mary McHarg, Union Affairs Officer at University College London and Chair of Trustee Board
This is great news for Elizabeth line passengers who will benefit from expanded mobile coverage. Extending coverage across London's underground network will make it much easier for people to keep connected and help passengers to navigate their sustainable journeys by Tube.
Michael Solomon Williams, Head of Campaigns at Campaign for Better Transport
