LU/Elizabeth Line 4G update

[MrJeeves]

Anyway, do you know why some are metal boxes, and some are white? Like the pics above?

Not sure if there's any actual reasoning behind it. It's just aesthetics, though. The white ones just have a plastic faceplate over the top of them, and that's the only actual difference. I assume it's to match the station aesthetics more than anything.

Also, at TCR on both the Central and Northern line platforms there are three boxes. Two of them are like the ones above, but the third is slightly smaller and seems to be made of plastic. Any idea what the third box is for? There are also three boxes at Notting Hill Gate, but only two at Holland Park and Queensway.

Yeah, two larger boxes are for 4G LTE (one for low frequency bands, one for high frequency bands), and the smaller box is for 5G NR.

Here's my pic from TCR.

 

[jon0844]

Just an additional note that Three activated 5G at some locations today also. So that's EE, Vodafone and Three done (with more work to come).

So come on O2.. any time now....!

 

[martin2345uk]

I recently joined O2 and it's by far the worst network I've used so far...

 

[MrJeeves]

Just an additional note that Three activated 5G at some locations today also. So that's EE, Vodafone and Three done (with more work to come).

So come on O2.. any time now....!

Welllllll Three have tried to enable it, but when tested it seems like the 5G part of the connectivity just encounters error after error when trying to use it so speeds aren't what you'd expect. Not sure what the issue is right now.

I recently joined O2 and it's by far the worst network I've used so far...

Usually not the best-performing by a long shot, but often works when some other networks don't! Thankfully I don't use them as my main network.

 

[mrmartin]

Any updates on this anyone has seen? Progress has been extremely slow - only two tiny bits of lines enabled so far. Bank etc were rumored to be coming online end of last year, and it's nearly march now. Hopefully a 'big bang' when loads gets turned on as it looks like lots of equipment installed?

 

[MrJeeves]

Any updates on this anyone has seen? Progress has been extremely slow - only two tiny bits of lines enabled so far. Bank etc were rumored to be coming online end of last year, and it's nearly march now. Hopefully a 'big bang' when loads gets turned on as it looks like lots of equipment installed?

No updates network-side.

BAI are running behind, and, as a result, networks aren't rushing to go live like they would have been otherwise.

 

[jon0844]

EE has had a number of problems with its IMS core (which handles things like Voice over 4G/LTE, Wi-Fi calling and the like) so perhaps that isn't helping - as all eyes will be on fixing this nationally?

 

[JonnyM]

Any updates on this anyone has seen? Progress has been extremely slow - only two tiny bits of lines enabled so far. Bank etc were rumored to be coming online end of last year, and it's nearly march now. Hopefully a 'big bang' when loads gets turned on as it looks like lots of equipment installed?

Apart from some minor additional antenna installation at Tottenham Court Road, there is no progress on my (admittedly small) section of the tube that I use. I did notice some antenna installation on the Northern line platforms at Waterloo, although I think these have been here for a while.

I agree that progress is very slow at the moment, before Christmas there was an Evening Standard article where someone from TfL was saying that they would have a "really big" roll out this year. That still can happen I suppose but, so far, there is no kit installation on the platforms to make it happen. I suspect the 2024 deadline for completion is more of a political deadline rather than a realistic one.

Apart from some minor additional antenna installation at Tottenham Court Road, there is no progress on my (admittedly small) section of the tube that I use. I did notice some antenna installation on the Northern line platforms at Waterloo, although I think these have been here for a while.

I agree that progress is very slow at the moment, before Christmas there was an Evening Standard article where someone from TfL was saying that they would have a "really big" roll out this year. That still can happen I suppose but, so far, there is no kit installation on the platforms to make it happen. I suspect the 2024 deadline for completion is more of a political deadline rather than a realistic one.

Link in question - https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/london-underground-tube-4g-signal-tfl-b1041381.html

 

[mrmartin]

Yeah that was my thinking - it seemed to be that big sections of northern/central were going to be opened towards the end of last year, now it is nearly march and nothing has happened. Must be seriously behind schedule. Wonder what is going on.

 

[mrmartin]

According to a rather cryptic post on another forum; there is some sort of 'safety' issue that is stopping any more rollout being activated atm, which would explain this huge wait.

 

[MrJeeves]

Currently all Tube station 2G/3G/4G/5G switch-ons are paused on all networks due to safety concerns (nothing related to interference or serious issues with the equipment). I can't say more than this right now.

 

[JonnyM]

Currently all Tube station 2G/3G/4G/5G switch-ons are paused on all networks due to safety concerns (nothing related to interference or serious issues with the equipment). I can't say more than this right now.

Thanks for the update, hopefully it won’t be too long before it restarts. It will be interesting to see if TfL stick to their 2024 deadline.

Does anyone know if BAI are still on track to take over the WiFi from Virgin Media in April?

No updates network-side.

BAI are running behind, and, as a result, networks aren't rushing to go live like they would have been otherwise.

From looking at TfL’s website, it now appears that O2 customers can now connect to 4G.

 

[MrJeeves]

From looking at TfL’s website, it now appears that O2 customers can now connect to 4G.

Could you link this?

 

[JonnyM]

Could you link this?

Mobile phones and Wi-Fi underground

See where you can access Wi-Fi on the Tube and London Overground networks

tfl.gov.uk

 

[jon0844]

The O2 link still only refers to Wi-Fi coverage - for now.

 

[MrJeeves]

The O2 link still only refers to Wi-Fi coverage - for now.

Connected London

We're making plans with telecoms partners that will help London become one of the best-connected cities in the world

tfl.gov.uk

This link does say "Virgin Media and O2 customers can now connect on the Central line," so potentially, yes.

 

[ThameslinkUser]

VMO2 went live at Queensway, Notting Hill Gate and Holland Park on Thursday.

 

[Dstock7080]

Archway; Tufnell Park and Kentish Town went live on O2 today.

 

[mrmartin]

Any update on getting new sections up and running?

 

[MrJeeves]

Still no updates on the block on new rollouts.

 

[JonnyM]

Still no updates on the block on new rollouts.

I happened to look up at TCR Central line platforms (Northern line end) while I was coming home tonight and noticed that all 3 antennas had been removed. They were still there on the Northern line platforms. Not sure why they would have been removed??

 

[MrJeeves]

I happened to look up at TCR Central line platforms (Northern line end) while I was coming home tonight and noticed that all 3 antennas had been removed. They were still there on the Northern line platforms. Not sure why they would have been removed??

Strange... the block is due to something that can be changed by software remotely so that wouldn't be why.

 

[mrmartin]

Vodafone now has 5G according to an article. It was also saying further sections of coverage to be setup in the 'coming months', which could be a long time!

 

[MrJeeves]

All the networks have 5G on the Tube now, but not at all stations.

 

[JonnyM]

Any update on getting new sections up and running?

No progress from what I've seen on new installs, but it looks like BAI have taken over the LU station & platform wifi which was previously operated by Virgin Media. VM have now disappeared from the list of available Wifi networks, these customers have to use Wifi Extra. Interestingly, Vodafone is now offering tube wifi again under VodafoneWifi. Yay!

 

[James H]

I have noticed this week that my O2 phone now much more reliably auto-connects to WiFi Extra on the tube.

Before I usually had to open the settings to get it to connect.

 

[jon81uk]

I have noticed this week that my O2 phone now much more reliably auto-connects to WiFi Extra on the tube.

Before I usually had to open the settings to get it to connect.

I noticed yesterday my iPhone connected to the ThreeWiFi SSID quicker too. I assumed it was the iOS update as hadn't realised there was further changes to the tube WiFi.

 

[thomalex]

No progress from what I've seen on new installs, but it looks like BAI have taken over the LU station & platform wifi which was previously operated by Virgin Media. VM have now disappeared from the list of available Wifi networks, these customers have to use Wifi Extra. Interestingly, Vodafone is now offering tube wifi again under VodafoneWifi. Yay!

I would presume station Wifi will be phased out when the the roll out of 5G is complete

 

[jon0844]

I would presume station Wifi will be phased out when the the roll out of 5G is complete

Assuming there's not much extra cost to maintain the Wi-Fi, it would be useful to keep it for tourists roaming here who may not have free data.

 

[JonnyM]

I have noticed this week that my O2 phone now much more reliably auto-connects to WiFi Extra on the tube.

Before I usually had to open the settings to get it to connect.

Yes, I noticed this as well. A lot of stations I went through today the phone connected automatically, previously I constantly had to connect via the Settings.

Assuming there's not much extra cost to maintain the Wi-Fi, it would be useful to keep it for tourists roaming here who may not have free data.

I would presume station Wifi will be phased out when the the roll out of 5G is complete

I think they will probably keep it, mostly for the tourist trade who can't roam. I noticed on the Elizabeth line that there is 'TfL_wifi' (which hasn't worked for months) so maybe they will roll this out to the tube network, and get rid of the other networks (?)