The roll-out of 4G super-fast wi-fi on the London Underground hit a landmark on Wednesday with its arrival on part of the Central line.
Transport for London announced 4G, which allows users to stream live TV and films, make calls and send emails and text messages, had been switched on overnight between Queensway and Holland Park stations.
Notting Hill Gate station has also been connected to the network - meaning passengers will be able to watch the film Notting Hill, starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts, while travelling under the famous west London neighbourhood.
The 4G services are initially available to EE and Vodafone customers. Three UK and Virgin Media O2 (VM02) customers will be connected in the New Year.
TfL hopes to expand coverage in the coming week to part of the Northern line’, between Archway and Kentish Town stations, including Tufnell Park station, on the High Barnet branch.
Continuous 4G can be accessed in station ticket halls, platforms, on Tube trains and in the tunnels between stations.
Final testing is also underway at Camden Town, Oxford Circus and Tottenham Court Road to enable them to join the network early in the New Year.
4G is already available on the eastern section of the Jubilee line between Westminster and Canning Town stations, where it was first trialled.
The entire London Underground and the Elizabeth line will be connected by the end of 2024.
There had been hopes that 4G would have been available in central London by the time of the World Cup Final last Sunday but engineers just narrowly missed the deadline.
The network, which is being built by BAI Communications at no cost to TfL under a 20-year contract, is also 5G-enabled. It will also provide communications for emergency services.
Seb Dance, the deputy mayor for transport, said it was a “a great step forward” in mobile connections on the Tube.
“The mayor [Sadiq Khan] pledged to Londoners that he would deliver 4G throughout the Tube network as part of his commitment to building a better London for everyone - and I have no doubt that this expansion of coverage will help transform journeys for millions of passengers,” Mr Dance said.
Shashi Verma, chief technology officer at TfL, said about 10 per cent of stations that are underground would soon be part of the 4G network.
Andrea Dona, Vodafone’s UK network director, said: “The arrival of 4G at these Tube stations will make a huge difference to our customers who want to be able to use their mobile whilst travelling.
“We look forward to seeing more stations going live across 2023.”
Greg McCall, chief networks officer at BT, said: “We’re delighted to be at the forefront of such a transformative project, supporting BAI in delivering what will ultimately be the largest and most advanced network of its type anywhere in the world.”
