LU/Elizabeth Line 4G update

[bicbasher]

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

So that'll be Vodafone as they piggy back on them.

 

[announcements]

Isn't a shame our updates coming into thread are so bitty wouldn't it be so satisfying to say a whole chunk of line has been completed? We are nearly halfway through the year with very little to say on this matter.

 

[djw1]

Isn't a shame our updates coming into thread are so bitty wouldn't it be so satisfying to say a whole chunk of line has been completed? We are nearly halfway through the year with very little to say on this matter.

Yes it is disappointing but hopefully they’ll rollout a big chunk ready for the main part of the summer. I’ve noticed now on Vodafone (but not EE) that it shows 5G on the Piccadilly platforms at Gloucester Road but it doesn’t actually work yet so I’m guessing they have a few areas that are ready to go.

 

[announcements]

The aforementioned Victoria to Green Park has been on and off for a while.

 

[Recessio]

Still no EE signal at Victoria, or the tunnel between Victoria and Pimlico. Otherwise working Vauxhall to Warren Street (at least - that's as far as my commute goes lol)

 

[kacper]

Still no EE signal at Victoria, or the tunnel between Victoria and Pimlico. Otherwise working Vauxhall to Warren Street (at least - that's as far as my commute goes lol)

Ee works until halfway up to Highbury and Islington

 

[Recessio]

Still no EE signal at Victoria, or the tunnel between Victoria and Pimlico. Otherwise working Vauxhall to Warren Street (at least - that's as far as my commute goes lol)

Now getting 5G with EE on the Victoria line platform at Victoria, but not in the northbound tunnel between Pimlico and Victoria station

 

[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.

And now also between Swiss Cottage and St. John's Wood (but not yet at either station).

 

[BJames]

Still no EE signal at Victoria, or the tunnel between Victoria and Pimlico. Otherwise working Vauxhall to Warren Street (at least - that's as far as my commute goes lol)

My O2 signal generally works between Victoria and about halfway between Kings Cross and Highbury (maybe slightly less than halfway) when going northbound. When going southbound, it kicks in near Kings Cross but doesn't work very well when on the platforms until Oxford Circus.

 

[bicbasher]

Edgware Road to Queen's Park on the Bakerloo is live according to TfL.

 

[JonnyM]

Edgware Road to Queen's Park on the Bakerloo is live according to TfL.

From looking at the TfL press release they have now reached 60% of tube stations which are 'underground'. So, very slowly edging toward the 100% they say they're going to reach by the end of this year. From reading between the lines, it seems TfL are basing coverage based on actual tube stations, not on whether the signal is live in the tunnel (?).

 

[Alxxxs]

EE is currently working between Victoria-Green Park

 

[JonnyM]

Ok technical question: what’s the difference between the larger antenna points on the platforms compared to the smaller, circular ones in the ticket halls and circulation areas?

 

[MrJeeves]

Ok technical question: what’s the difference between the larger antenna points on the platforms compared to the smaller, circular ones in the ticket halls and circulation areas?

The small ones are just antennas, fed using coaxial cable from a radio located elsewhere. The large ones are an antenna and radio unit combined.

 

[JonnyM]

The small ones are just antennas, fed using coaxial cable from a radio located elsewhere. The large ones are an antenna and radio unit combined.

Thanks. is there there more capacity on the larger antenna/radio units compared to the smaller ones? Or is it a non-issue? I've seen the larger ones on the platforms mostly, and the smaller ones in ticket halls and circulating areas. Is there any preference for what goes where?

 

[MrJeeves]

Thanks. is there there more capacity on the larger antenna/radio units compared to the smaller ones? Or is it a non-issue? I've seen the larger ones on the platforms mostly, and the smaller ones in ticket halls and circulating areas. Is there any preference for what goes where?

My understanding is that the small ones all get the same "signal" from one set of radios. So if you're moving around, there is no need for a device to switch between different "cells" within the station to retain connectivity. This presents benefits for everyone, as changing to a different cell requires messages from the network which eat into the available bandwidth for data traffic.

However, as they all share the same broadcast, the capacity is more limited because, while you're in some random corridor connecting two lines, you're also receiving the same radio broadcast intended for someone up in the ticket hall.

While, for the larger units, they will have their own individual cell which they broadcast, which grants higher capacity and better signal quality (there isn't any signal loss or interference between radio and the antenna). They're more important on the platforms since they'll be rather crowded with people, and they have to handle people switching onto those cells while pulling in and back out on a train. If every antenna in the station broadcasted those same messages, you'd lose a lot of data throughput.

There are exceptions. I know Euston has some of the active antenna+radio units in some circulating areas, for example. I don't think I've seen a passive antenna on a platform though. I can only imagine that Boldyn did some traffic modelling, potentially using stats from the WiFi system.

 

[JonnyM]

My understanding is that the small ones all get the same "signal" from one set of radios. So if you're moving around, there is no need for a device to switch between different "cells" within the station to retain connectivity. This presents benefits for everyone, as changing to a different cell requires messages from the network which eat into the available bandwidth for data traffic.

However, as they all share the same broadcast, the capacity is more limited because, while you're in some random corridor connecting two lines, you're also receiving the same radio broadcast intended for someone up in the ticket hall.

While, for the larger units, they will have their own individual cell which they broadcast, which grants higher capacity and better signal quality (there isn't any signal loss or interference between radio and the antenna). They're more important on the platforms since they'll be rather crowded with people, and they have to handle people switching onto those cells while pulling in and back out on a train. If every antenna in the station broadcasted those same messages, you'd lose a lot of data throughput.

There are exceptions. I know Euston has some of the active antenna+radio units in some circulating areas, for example. I don't think I've seen a passive antenna on a platform though. I can only imagine that Boldyn did some traffic modelling, potentially using stats from the WiFi system.

I've noticed the smaller units on the Northern line platforms at Embankment where I was surprised to see them, I thought the larger units would have been fitted here? In contrast, I've seen many of the larger units in the ticket halls of the Northern line stations on the southern section of the line, some several larger units in duplication. I would have expected to see the smaller units here as the ticket halls are quite small (with the possible exception of Tooting Broadway).

 

[Alxxxs]

I see that the TFL map was recently updated. From what I can see, they added coverage between Victoria and Pimlico, closed the gap south of Kennington and probably added a few tunnels on Jubilee and District/Circle/H&C lines

 

[zwk500]

I see that the TFL map was recently updated. From what I can see, they added coverage between Victoria and Pimlico, closed the gap south of Kennington

Also added (since the March 2026 map) -
Bakerloo: Marylebone - Queens Park
Northern: Camden Town - Euston (Bank Branch), South Wimbledon - Morden
Piccadilly: Hyde Park Corner - Knightsbridge.

and probably added a few tunnels on Jubilee and District/Circle/H&C lines

Jubilee: Swiss Cottage - St John's Wood.
Sub-Surface: Great Portland Street - King's Cross St Pancras International, Farringdon - Moorgate, Monument - Cannon Street, Victoria - Sloane Square, Bayswater - Paddington.

 

[announcements]

Slowwwwww progress in other words...