How London finally cracked mobile phone coverage on the Underground

"Dotted around London, there are a number of private hotels that aren't the sort of hotel you might expect - they're needed to make mobile phones work on the London Underground. They're not for humans, but for huge racks of computer and electronics equipment - and each of the UK's mobile networks is renting space inside them, as this was one of the innovations that allowed phones to work underground in the first place."

"However, as radio equipment has become smaller and cleverer, it's now possible for several networks to share the same equipment, and in 2021 Boldyn Networks (then BAI Communications) signed a deal to build a "neutral network" that can be leased to mobile networks. Bodyn has a 20-year concession with Transport for London ( TfL) to build and operate the network, and, aside from internal staff time spent managing the project, it's being delivered at no cost to TfL."

"The new network doesn't just provide phone coverage for customers; it's also part of the government's Emergency Services Network and might, in the future, replace staff radios when they're being upgraded. In fact, the customer-facing part of the network, while not insubstantial, is the smallest part of the whole project. Given the hundreds of millions it would cost to upgrade the emergency service network and staff back-of-house radio networks, it makes sense to provide a public service as well."

Private 'hotel' sites across London house racks of electronics that provide mobile connectivity for the Underground, with mobile networks renting space inside them. Old tube stations lacked room and budget for separate operator equipment, but smaller, smarter radio gear now allows multiple networks to share infrastructure. In 2021 Boldyn Networks signed a deal to build a neutral network leased to operators, holding a 20-year concession with TfL and delivering the system at no cost to TfL apart from internal management time. The network also supports the Emergency Services Network and could replace staff radios, justifying public-service delivery amid costly upgrades. Hundreds of miles of cabling have been rolled out into t

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