60% of London Tube Now 5G
Entire network to be connected by year-end, rivalling above-ground citywide coverage
London's Underground has made significant strides in improving its 5G coverage, with about 60% of below-ground stations now having coverage. The entire London Underground network is expected to be connected by the end of this year, with 5G availability and signal strength comparable to above-ground citywide figures in some areas.
The improvement is a result of efforts to connect all stations and tunnels, which was initially promised by Mayor Sadiq Khan in 2021 to be completed by the end of 2024. Although the deadline was missed, the progress made so far is notable. According to analysis by network intelligence firm Ookla, 19.8% of below-ground scans connected over 5G, compared to 16.5% across the city above ground.
The median 4G signal strength on below-ground platforms was -96 dBm, compared to -98 dBm at street level across the city. Where 5G is available below ground, the median signal strength was -93 dBm, stronger than the citywide above-ground median of -98 dBm. Ookla's analysis was based on more than 50 million background signal scans collected across Greater London between March 25 and April 30.
## What it means The improved 5G coverage on the London Underground is a significant development, especially considering that London came bottom of the table in a test of 5G services across Europe last year. The city's 5G services were evaluated based on service availability, download and upload speeds, latency, and streaming performance. With the entire network expected to be connected by the end of the year, commuters can expect a more seamless and connected experience while travelling on the Tube.
The progress made so far is a testament to the efforts of the authorities to improve the city's 5G infrastructure. As the network continues to expand, it will be interesting to see how it compares to above-ground citywide figures in the future. For now, the improved 5G coverage on the London Underground is a welcome development for commuters and a step in the right direction for the city's digital infrastructure.
