5G availability and signal strength on parts of London’s Underground are now comparable to those above ground, according to UK market analysis firm Ookla.
While many other major capital cities around the world have introduced mobile coverage into their underground transport networks, London’s Tube has for many years been known as a mobile not-spot, much to the frustration of commuters.
In 2021, Transport for London (TfL) committed to having full 4G or 5G coverage across the Tube’s 121 subterranean stations and tunnel system by the end of 2024. This deadline has been pushed to the end of this year, with more than 60% of the Tube’s network currently having coverage.
To evaluate the signal quality in these areas, Ookla analysed over 50 million background signal scans collected across the network between 25 March to 30 April 2026. It found that nearly one in five below ground connections is already on 5G, while signal strength on connected platforms is broadly comparable to the streets above...