Vodafone UK and Virgin Media O2 will use a neutral host mobile network on the London Underground rail system to provide 4G coverage to its customers. Now, riders who are customers of all four major U.K. operators can now access 4G services during their commutes, as BT-owned EE and CK Hutchison’s 3 UK proclaimed their involvement last year.
BAI Communications won a contract in 2021 to deploy the underground network by the end of 2024. While currently offering 4G services, the completed network will be 5G-ready and will have involved 2,000km of cabling. BAI Communications CEO Billy D’Arcy previously estimated that the company will invest about £1 billion on the rail system — and similar London projects — throughout the contract’s 20-year timeline.
