London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Sep 15, 2025

Tube passengers may be able to stream World Cup Final on Underground 4G

Tube passengers may be able to stream World Cup Final on Underground 4G

The exact launch date could be ready in time for the final on December 18

Tube passengers may be able to stream the World Cup Final on their smartphones while deep underground, it can be revealed.

The roll-out of 4G wifi on the London Underground is due to hit a major landmark by the end of next month, when a number of stations and tunnels on the Northern and Central lines will be the first in central London to be connected.

The exact launch date is being kept under wraps but it is understood it could be ready in time for the final on December 18. Stations previously earmarked as being the first to benefit include Euston, Bank and Oxford Circus.

The Standard has been given behind-the-scenes access to the work being done to install super-fast wifi to the subterranean sections of the Underground.

The £1bn-plus investment is being carried out by BAI Communications under a 20-year deal that will deliver an annual income to Transport for London. Passengers will be able to make voice calls, text, browse the web and stream movies and TV throughout their journey, at no additional cost under their mobile contract.

Ken Ranger, chief operating office of BAI UK, said: “You will be able to use your phone exactly as you use it above ground, below ground.


The work is ongoing

“You will be able to talk to your loved ones, to stay connected, for entertainment, if you are running late from the office and you can’t get hold of your partner or child and know you can communicate with somebody.”

BAI began work last year and will complete all 137 below-ground stations and their interlinking tunnels – plus those on the Elizabeth line – by the end of next year.

More than 500 people are working each night to install more than 1,200 miles of cabling, antennae and radio receivers. All phone operators will be able to connect into the “neutral” network being laid by BAI.
Skiparrow
Sponsored Ad
Up next
Capital city quiz
Apester Logo
Skiparrow
Sponsored Ad
Up next
Capital city quiz
Apester Logo

Much of the equipment has to be fitted into the tightest of spaces, or hidden behind panelling in passenger tunnel walkways. Engineers have no more than 3.5 hours a night, between the last trains running around 1am and the Tube restarting after 5am.

The technology, which links with 10 “data centres” at secret locations around the capital, is future-proofed to enable later upgrades to 5G. A network of cables is also being laid to create a “full-fibre spine for London”.

The roll-out follows the 2020 trial of 4G on the eastern end of the Jubilee line.

BAI already operates 4G networks on the New York, Toronto and Hong Kong subways.

Matthew Griffin, head of commercial telecoms at TfL, said 4G would provide a “seamless” connection for passengers.

“You can be connected as you walk into a station, walk through the station, take a Tube, change Tubes and then walk out of the station into the street, and your call will be connected at all times,” he said.

“Our plan is to start rolling it out very soon - hopefully some stations by the end of the year, and a really big roll-out in 2023, when a lot of people’s journeys will be covered. We will finish the whole thing off by the end of 2024 - the very hard to reach areas.”

He doubted many passengers would make calls between stations – due to the noise levels from the speed of the Tube.

“My personal view is that it is quite noisy and difficult,” he said. “I would be uncomfortable doing it.

“There will be some people that do it but I think it’s mainly going to be a data and entertainment use - streaming videos, WhatsApp messages. That mirrors how people use their phones above ground. The use of data is increasing a lot, whereas voice is declining.”

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
U.S. and China Agree on Framework to Shift TikTok to American Ownership
London Daily Podcast: London Massive Pro Democracy Rally, Musk Support, UK Economic Data and Premier League Results Mark Eventful Weekend
This Week in AI: Meta’s Superintelligence Push, xAI’s Ten Billion-Dollar Raise, Genesis AI’s Robotics Ambitions, Microsoft Restructuring, Amazon’s Million-Robot Milestone, and Google’s AlphaGenome Update
Le Pen Tightens the Pressure on Macron as France Edges Toward Political Breakdown
Musk calls for new UK government at huge pro-democracy rally in London, but Britons have been brainwashed to obey instead of fighting for their human rights
Elon Musk responds to post calling for the murder of Erika Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk: 'Either we fight back or they will kill us'
Czech Republic signs €1.34 billion contract for Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks with delivery from 2028
USA: Office Depot Employees Refused to Print Poster in Memory of Charlie Kirk – and Were Fired
Proposed U.S. Bill Would Allow Civil Suits Against Judges Who Release Repeat Violent Offenders
Penske Media Sues Google Over “AI Overviews,” Claiming It Uses Journalism Without Consent and Destroys Traffic
Indian Student Engineers Propose “Project REBIRTH” to Protect Aircraft from Crashes Using AI, Airbags and Smart Materials
French Debt Downgrade Piles Pressure on Macron’s New Prime Minister
US and UK Near Tech, Nuclear and Whisky Deals Ahead of Trump Trip
One in Three Europeans Now Uses TikTok, According to the Chinese Tech Giant
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
NATO Deploys ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
Anesthesiologist Left Operation Mid-Surgery to Have Sex with Nurse
Tens of Thousands of Young Chinese Get Up Every Morning and Go to Work Where They Do Nothing
The New Life of Novak Djokovic
The German Owner of Politico Mathias Döpfner Eyes Further U.S. Media Expansion After Axel Springer Restructuring
Suspect Arrested: Utah Man in Custody for Charlie Kirk’s Fatal Shooting
In a politically motivated trial: Bolsonaro Sentenced to 27 Years for Plotting Coup After 2022 Defeat
German police raid AfD lawmaker’s offices in inquiry over Chinese payments
Turkish authorities seize leading broadcaster amid fraud and tax investigation
Volkswagen launches aggressive strategy to fend off Chinese challenge in Europe’s EV market
ChatGPT CEO signals policy to alert authorities over suicidal youth after teen’s death
The British legal mafia hit back: Banksy mural of judge beating protester is scrubbed from London court
Surpassing Musk: Larry Ellison becomes the richest man in the world
Embarrassment for Starmer: He fired the ambassador photographed on Epstein’s 'pedophile island'
Manhunt after 'skilled sniper' shot Charlie Kirk. Footage: Suspect running on rooftop during panic
Effective Protest Results: Nepal’s Prime Minister Resigns as Youth-Led Unrest Shakes the Nation
Qatari prime minister says Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages
King Charles and Prince Harry Share First In-Person Moment in 19 Months
Starmer Establishes Economic ‘Budget Board’ to Centralise Policy and Rebuild Business Trust
France Erupts in Mass ‘Block Everything’ Protests on New PM’s First Day
Poland Shoots Down Russian Drones in Airspace Violation During Ukraine Attack
Brazilian police say ex-President Bolsonaro had planned to flee to Argentina seeking asylum
Trinidad Leader Applauds U.S. Naval Strike and Advocates Forceful Action Against Traffickers
Kim Jong Un Oversees Final Test of New High-Thrust Solid-Fuel Rocket Engine
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
Macron Appoints Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister Amid Budget Crisis and Political Turmoil
Supreme Court temporarily allows Trump to pause billions in foreign aid
Charlie Sheen says his father, Martin Sheen, turned him in to the police: 'The greatest betrayal possible'
Vatican hosts first Catholic LGBTQ pilgrimage
Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Series, iPhone Air, Apple Watch 11 and More at 'Awe Dropping' Event
Pig Heads Left Outside Multiple Paris Mosques in Outrage-Inducing Acts
Nvidia’s ‘Wow’ Factor Is Fading. The AI chip giant used to beat Wall Street expectations for earnings by a substantial margin. That trajectory is coming down to earth.
France joins Eurozone’s ‘periphery’ as turmoil deepens, say investors
On the Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s Death: Prince Harry Returns to Britain
France Faces New Political Crisis, again, as Prime Minister Bayrou Pushed Out
×