Three has announced that together with EE, it is joining the BAI Communications (BAI) network which will help provide 4G- and 5G-ready mobile connectivity deep below the streets of London on the Underground. According to the firm, the partnership will allow them to turn London into a ‘truly smart city’.
While today’s announcement mentions Three and EE, all mobile operators will be able to access the London Underground Wi-Fi and BAI’s neutral host mobile network. Customers who do use the network will have uninterrupted coverage while on their trips as well as in stations while waiting for their train.
Commenting on the news, Shashi Verma, Chief Technology Officer at TfL, said:
“It is great that these first two mobile operators have now signed up to provide high-speed, uninterrupted 4G coverage across the London Underground network. Providing mobile connectivity to customers within the tunnels and on platforms across London will help them stay connected more easily and will both provide a long-term revenue stream for TfL and support economic growth across the city.”
BAI was awarded a 20-year concession to build the network in June 2021. Since then, it has begun work at the busiest stations such as Oxford Circus, Tottenham Court Road, Bank, Euston, and Camden Town. These stations will begin providing connectivity by the end of 2022 and the plan is to have the entire network connected by the end of 2024.
