LU/Elizabeth Line 4G update

[jon0844]

It's hardly selective to note that the overwhelming majority of metro systems across the world have mobile signal underground. New York is an outlier, just like London, in not having it. Being one of a couple of stragglers is hardly a strong argument that it's not necessary or valued.

New York seems to have had people in charge that weren't so interested in investing in public transit, hence it starting to fall apart. Maybe with the congestion zone and a new Mayor, they'll be able to bring it up to modern standards. Good public transport in a city has huge economic benefits.

 

[announcements]

The one good thing about the New York metro, at least, is the free wifi is reliable between stations and is accessible to everyone, not just by specific mobile operator. I haven't been able to access the London Underground wifi for years since Vodafone pulled out.

 

[JonnyM]

The one good thing about the New York metro, at least, is the free wifi is reliable between stations and is accessible to everyone, not just by specific mobile operator. I haven't been able to access the London Underground wifi for years since Vodafone pulled out.

Vodafone rejoined a few years ago, VodafoneWiFi is available from the list of WiFi providers.

 

[announcements]

Ah I'm on Lebara and they use the Vodafone network, so I stand corrected then - a Lebara issue, not Vodafone itself.

 

[Roy Badami]

Ah I'm on Lebara and they use the Vodafone network, so I stand corrected then - a Lebara issue, not Vodafone itself.

Yes, few, if any, MVNOs offer TfL Wi-Fi access, but all the primary mobile networks currently do (although in the past Vodafone briefly didn't).

 

[Mojo]

Yes, few, if any, MVNOs offer TfL Wi-Fi access, but all the primary mobile networks currently do (although in the past Vodafone briefly didn't).

I’m on Talkmobile and have access to the Vodafone WiFi on the LU network, and before Talkmobile I was with Plusnet for many years until they shut down and they gave access to the EE WiFi.

 

[jon0844]

I’m on Talkmobile and have access to the Vodafone WiFi on the LU network, and before Talkmobile I was with Plusnet for many years until they shut down and they gave access to the EE WiFi.

There are different ways virtual networks (MVNOs) can run their networks, with some using the same setup as the main network (VOXI for example, and possibly Smarty). VOXI is essentially a Vodafone SIM you manage via a different looking website, rather than a fully independent operator - and it was quick and easy for Vodafone to launch it. As such it works the same, albeit without access to some features like standalone 5G (but there's no reason it couldn't be enabled).

Some MVNOs have their own billing and backend systems and just piggy back on the network, and these probably won't work.

 

[Roy Badami]

I’m on Talkmobile and have access to the Vodafone WiFi on the LU network, and before Talkmobile I was with Plusnet for many years until they shut down and they gave access to the EE WiFi.

I stand corrected. Looking at the list, more MVNOs support it than I had realised. It still looks to be the case that the majority of MVNOs do not provide access to TfL Wi-Fi, although there's a substantially larger minority than I'd realised that do. The figures are heavily skewed by the fact that EE has by far the most MVNOs of any network, and none of its MVNOs seem to offer TfL Wi-Fi except for BT Mobile (which is the same company as EE, of course).

On another topic, I was travelling between Kings Cross and Oxford Circus on the Victoria line around three weeks ago, and I still had no service on Vodafone for the entire journey. On the return journey - between Oxford Circus and Warren Street - I did a network scan. My phone could see signal from EE, O2, Three and the Emergency Services Network. So, as I had suspected, the Victoria line is live on all networks except Vodafone.

 

[announcements]

The Victoria line only works for Vodafone at Stockwell, Pimlico and Green Park stations.

 

[announcements]

4G is working for Vodafone between Victoria and Green Park, including the tunnels, albeit slightly weak.

 

[Blaine]

Ah I'm on Lebara and they use the Vodafone network, so I stand corrected then - a Lebara issue, not Vodafone itself.

Lebara will work on Tube Wifi (if you pick the Vodafone SSID).

 

[plunet]

Lebara will work on Tube Wifi (if you pick the Vodafone SSID).

I have also noticed that LUs Vodafone WiFi works for me using EAP-SIM authentication from my Lebara SIM. I'm not sure it should work though.

 

[announcements]

Pleased to announce I'm typing this message between Stockwell and Brixton on 4G signal! (Lebara/Vodafone)

 

[bnc2018]

I've been getting signal on Three between London Bridge and Bank for the past few days

 

[announcements]

Worked up to Moorgate for me also, then it goes back to only working at Angel and then Camden Town.

 

[MTW]

This week there is (O2) signal in the Jubilee line tunnels between Finchley Road and Swiss Cottage, both directions. Hopefully they are finally extending towards Westminster.

 

[mrmartin]

Randomly got signal on bakerloo at Edgware road (but not paddington or Marylebone) on O2 today.

 

[MaidaVale]

Randomly got signal on bakerloo at Edgware road (but not paddington or Marylebone) on O2 today.

Yeah this has been the case for a couple of months. It stretches a bit further into the tunnel in either direction on the Southbound, but is pretty much confined to the platform area only on the Northbound.

 

[Pete_uk]

- I did a network scan. My phone could see signal from EE, O2, Three and the Emergency Services Network.

Was this a function on the phone or 3rd party app?

 

[mrmartin]

Was this a function on the phone or 3rd party app?

All phones have this. It's usually called manual network selection or something similar.

 

[martin2345uk]

I just got full 5G signal at the subsurface platforms at Moorgate on EE, that’s a first for me.

 

[announcements]

Vodafone/Lebara now working Warren Street.

 

[Leogilbert007]

Received this from TfL this morning, I have yet to test it out...

 

[zwk500]

Received this from TfL this morning, I have yet to test it out...

Victoria Line is now shown as Brixton to Stockwell, Vauxhall to Pimlico, and Victoria to King's Cross St Pancras on the latest TfL Map (dated March),

https://content.tfl.gov.uk/tube-map-below-ground-4g-and-5g-coverage.pdf

 

[announcements]

I'm still not sure why the map is showing a gap between Oval and Stockwell, when that section is complete?

 

[rmHawk765]

4G is working for Vodafone between Victoria and Green Park, including the tunnels, albeit slightly weak.

I have 4G for most of the route on Giffgaff (O2), though it's a bit spotty past Finsbury (northbound) admittedly.

 

[Blaine]

I got a new Lebara sim - works well on station 4G, and on the Northern line - but doesn't work in the Victoria line tunnels.

 

[djw1]

Had this email today, although data has been available at Temple for at least a week or two.

 

[MaidaVale]

Paddington through to Marylebone on the Bakerloo now working on Three, including the platforms. I’ve noticed it sporadically stretching either side of Edgware Road previously sometimes reaching further than others, but this is the first time I’ve seen it working consistently the whole way.

 

[Blaine]

Lebara now working in Victoria line tunnel between Victoria and Green Park, but not the rest of the line ‍♂️