Running late for Christmas drinks? Trapped in the rush-hour crush? Sky Mobile customers no longer need to worry about keeping in touch with friends and family as the network has expanded its 4G and 5G coverage to more than 20 stations.
Passengers can now text or call while underground, as well as browsing the web for some Christmas shopping, listening to a podcast or streaming a calming TV show amid the commuter hustle and bustle.
Coverage includes stations on the Jubilee line between Canning Town and Westminster, and the Central line from Holland Park to Queensway and between Oxford Circus and Tottenham Court Road.
On the Northern line, Sky Mobile will cover Archway to Euston and Belsize to Euston on the northern branches, and Goodge Street to Tottenham Court Road on the Charing Cross branch.
Sky Mobile also confirmed it would be expanding its 4G and 5G network further in 2024, as TfL rolls out coverage to the Victoria and Elizabeth lines.
Which networks offer service on the tube?
A number of other networks already provide 4G coverage on the Tube, while WiFi is available at most stations.
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EE offers 4G to passengers on the Central line between Holland Park and Queensway, the Northern line between Archway and Kentish Town, and on the Jubilee line between Westminster and Canning Town.
Virgin Media O2 also offers 4G between the same stops on the Central, Jubilee and Northern lines, while Notting Hill, between Holland Park and Queensway, now offers 5G.
Vodafone recently introduced 4G to sections of the Jubilee, Northern and Central lines, with 5G available at selected stations and tunnels including Oxford Circus, Tottenham Court Road and Camden Town.
Can I get WiFi on the Tube?
Most mobile networks offer WiFi at all Tube stations.
Free WiFi is also available at most Overground stations, Victoria Coach Station and, most recently, Elizabeth line stops under central London.
The WiFi does not cover the tunnels between stations yet, but Transport for London has pledged to eliminate these mobile ‘not spots’ by the end of 2024.
What does WiFi stand for?
HiFi stands for high fidelity, relating to top quality sound production, so it stands to reason that WiFi stands for wireless fidelity.
But it doesn’t.
In fact, WiFi is literally meaningless.
It’s just a snappy, more user-friendly name than its official one, IEEE 802.11.
A good decision.
