LU/Elizabeth Line 4G update

[MrJeeves]

Users are being migrated to O2 in batches this year so it isn't always true that Virgin uses O2. There are a lot of people to migrate to an entirely different system.

All Virgin Mobile customers use O2. The migration is moving them onto O2 itself rather than through Virgin Mobile's MVNO.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 2 Jun 2023 ==

This is the map of 'summer' coverage:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fxd-LhDX0AE3w7t?format=jpg&name=medium

Where did you source this from?

 

[jon0844]

Virgin MVNO used T-Mobile (then becoming EE), then Vodafone, so until they move to O2 proper I can't see how they could use the O2 (Wi-Fi Extra) SSID on the Underground.

I've got a Giffgaff SIM I'm testing and that doesn't work on the tube, as the SIM authentication fails.

I'm on the Northern line now (alighting at King's Cross) and posted this using EE. That connected perfectly, which wasn't always the case in recent months.

 

[rebmcr]

Where did you source this from?

twimg.com is the backend used for images and videos on Twitter.

 

[MrJeeves]

twimg.com is the backend used for images and videos on Twitter.

I'm aware of that, but it'd be useful to know who tweeted it.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 2 Jun 2023 ==

Virgin MVNO used T-Mobile (then becoming EE), then Vodafone, so until they move to O2 proper I can't see how they could use the O2 (Wi-Fi Extra) SSID on the Underground.

I've got a Giffgaff SIM I'm testing and that doesn't work on the tube, as the SIM authentication fails.

I'm on the Northern line now (alighting at King's Cross) and posted this using EE. That connected perfectly, which wasn't always the case in recent months.

Virgin used T-Mobile, then EE after the merger with Orange, then started migrating people to Vodafone while also starting the VMO2 joint venture.

New customers in 2021 would be on Vodafone, but old customers would migrate to Vodafone during 2022, but when the VMO2 JV happened, they announced they would terminate the agreement with Vodafone, and by the end of 2022, all customers were now on O2.

The current migration is to O2 plans, but all customers are currently still on the O2 network.

The operator has also confirmed that all of their underlying mobile network traffic is now being run across the O2 network, with Virgin Mobile’s move away from Vodafone’s Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) platform being completed last year. This comes just a year and a half after Virgin Media and O2 merged in June 2021.

Virgin Media UK Confirm Aim to Switch Virgin Mobile Plans to O2

Broadband ISP Virgin Media UK (VMO2) has today confirmed what we published yesterday (here), which is that, starting from March 2023, Virgin Mobile's 3 million

www.ispreview.co.uk

 

[jon0844]

But I am sure users are being migrated to a different (billing) platform, which will also see the plans changed. I assume only the O2 platform offers the Wi-Fi access.

Vodafone users weren't so long ago migrated to a single system, with the older business/SME platform being extremely limited.

EE is also having similar fun and games with systems merging and being behind schedule due to various gremlins. Likewise, Three is migrating users to the same platform they have in Ireland, and I'm sure they'll have problems too. I moved in early May.

 

[mrmartin]

Was from here: https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/article...ding-on-the-northern-and-central-lines-63146/

All Virgin Mobile customers use O2. The migration is moving them onto O2 itself rather than through Virgin Mobile's MVNO.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 2 Jun 2023 ==


Where did you source this from?

 

[JonnyM]

Virgin MVNO used T-Mobile (then becoming EE), then Vodafone, so until they move to O2 proper I can't see how they could use the O2 (Wi-Fi Extra) SSID on the Underground.

Out of interest, does anyone know why O2 use the name 'Wifi Extra' for their wifi service? I would have thought it would be 'O2 Wifi'????

 

[jon0844]

Out of interest, does anyone know why O2 use the name 'Wifi Extra' for their wifi service? I would have thought it would be 'O2 Wifi'????

Seems to be a thing from O2 Wi-Fi hotspots, and presumably they kept the SSID so users could in theory connect more seamlessly.

 

[JonnyM]

Seems to be a thing from O2 Wi-Fi hotspots, and presumably they kept the SSID so users could in theory connect more seamlessly.

Thanks, makes sense I suppose.

 

[Richardr]

As well as Virgin Mobile, I believe that Sky Mobile is another MVNO on O2 that hasn't got access to the Underground Wi-Fi. Given that none of Sky Mobile, Virgin Mobile, or GiffGaff have access, the common factor seems to be that they are MVNO's using O2. I wonder if anyone knows about Tesco Mobile - another large MVNO that is on the O2 network?

 

[thomalex]

As well as Virgin Mobile, I believe that Sky Mobile is another MVNO on O2 that hasn't got access to the Underground Wi-Fi. Given that none of Sky Mobile, Virgin Mobile, or GiffGaff have access, the common factor seems to be that they are MVNO's using O2. I wonder if anyone knows about Tesco Mobile - another large MVNO that is on the O2 network?

On Sky Mobile and can confirm, it’s annoying. Fortunately you do get 5G in the sections that have it so it shouldn’t be an issue when the roll out of mobile coverage is more extensive.

 

[jon0844]

I looked into Giffgaff and the Giffgaff app (a web container in reality) has a download to install the settings for O2 Wi-Fi and Underground access. I'll have to try again next week.

 

[James H]

I'm with Smarty and there are instructions for accessing via Three.

 

[MrJeeves]

Giffgaff app (a web container in reality)

It's not a web app. It's made with React Native.

This is the map of 'summer' coverage:

Couldn't stand this, so I made my own map instead: https://mastdatabase.co.uk/gb/london-underground-connectivity/

 

[Mojo]

Couldn't stand this, so I made my own map instead: https://mastdatabase.co.uk/gb/london-underground-connectivity/

The Elizabeth line tunnels to Heathrow Airport have mobile reception (and has done for a long while now; it is not part of the LU / Elizabeth line scheme).

 

[MrJeeves]

The Elizabeth line tunnels to Heathrow Airport have mobile reception (and has done for a long while now; it is not part of the LU / Elizabeth line scheme).

I knew they did on some operators, but didn't know if it was all of them. I also couldn't find a concrete date to when that launched online. Any ideas?

 

[Mojo]

I knew they did on some operators, but didn't know if it was all of them. I also couldn't find a concrete date to when that launched online. Any ideas?

The technology is in the tunnels and not on the trains, so it’s avaliable on both Elizabeth line (and the Heathrow Connect/TfL Rail services that preceded them) and Heathrow Express services.

Don’t know when installed; but it predates 2009.

 

[MrJeeves]

The technology is in the tunnels and not on the trains, so it’s avaliable on both Elizabeth line (and the Heathrow Connect/TfL Rail services that preceded them) and Heathrow Express services.

Sorry, I meant mobile operators

 

[jon0844]

It's not a web app. It's made with React Native.

I just reloaded the app and realised it is the Voxi app that is a web app, not Giffgaff!

 

[Mojo]

Sorry, I meant mobile operators

All phone companies.

 

[Sweetjesus]

Perhaps a bit silly question but why wasn't 4G/5G used instead of WiFi? I've used 4G in Jubilee Line and it worked very well/seamlessly as opposed to WiFi in the Lizzy line. What would be the disadvantages of using 4G/5G over to WiFi?

 

[MrJeeves]

Perhaps a bit silly question but why wasn't 4G/5G used instead of WiFi? I've used 4G in Jubilee Line and it worked very well/seamlessly as opposed to WiFi in the Lizzy line. What would be the disadvantages of using 4G/5G over to WiFi?

WiFi is simple and easy to deploy with off the shelf tech. Mobile coverage needs cooperation from networks, specialist equipment, and far more.

2G/3G/4G/5G will come to the Elizabeth line, but TfL just implemented the same solution as on LU with WiFi at stations.

 

[Starmill]

Perhaps a bit silly question but why wasn't 4G/5G used instead of WiFi? I've used 4G in Jubilee Line and it worked very well/seamlessly as opposed to WiFi in the Lizzy line. What would be the disadvantages of using 4G/5G over to WiFi?

Both of them will be available on the Elizabeth line. The onboard WiFi is already available anyway, it just doesn't work in the tunnels yet.

 

[Gigabit]

Sorry, bit confused. Are people saying the Elizabeth Line has Wi-Fi in the tunnels?

 

[matt_world2004]

Sorry, bit confused. Are people saying the Elizabeth Line has Wi-Fi in the tunnels?

There's ontrain WiFi that you can connect to. But once the train enters the central operating section tunnels. The Internet connection on the WiFi stops working.even though your phone Will connect to the SSID still

 

[Starmill]

Sorry, bit confused. Are people saying the Elizabeth Line has Wi-Fi in the tunnels?

As above the WiFi has been there on the train from the start it just doesn't have uplink to the internet yet in tunneled sections. It will do once the mobile data signal is rolled out.

 

[Gigabit]

How confusing, so there's TfL Wi-Fi at stations and then separate Wi-Fi on the train as well? And then there will also be 4G in time, why so many options?

 

[Pdf]

Does anyone know if the tunneled section of the east London line of the overground will also gain 4G coverage as part of this project?

 

[Sweetjesus]

How confusing, so there's TfL Wi-Fi at stations and then separate Wi-Fi on the train as well? And then there will also be 4G in time, why so many options?

Exactly, seems a bit of waste money to main 3 separate systems that does the same job.

 

[Starmill]

How confusing, so there's TfL Wi-Fi at stations and then separate Wi-Fi on the train as well? And then there will also be 4G in time, why so many options?

There's also Greater Anglia WiFi at Shenfield and I think The Cloud at London Paddington and Reading. I don't know if Slough, Maidenhead or Twyford have GWR WiFi.

This is the same everywhere though basically and it's a mess. Same as how loads of operators don't use the private network to settle onboard card transactions for some reason, so if the card transaction goes through offline and then declines they've no comeback.