Transport for London recently announced that the London Underground will gain full mobile phone coverage by 2024.  The public transport provider has awarded a 20-year deal to the infrastructure company BAI Communications to implement a full 4G and 5G ready network in the tube. The CEO of BAI Communications, Bill D’Arcy, said that:

‘We are proud to be helping TfL and other customers develop connectivity solutions that have a positive impact on how citizens live and work and contribute towards smart city development.’

Mr. D’Arcy has good reason to be excited, but this leap forward in connectivity might not be as productive as other tube projects could be

Will 5G scepticism damage network rollout?

Last year, conspiracy theorists took to Facebook and Twitter to spread the news that 5G networks were causing the symptoms of Coronavirus. Though utterly unfounded and disproven, these conspiracy theories inspired arson attacks on 5G masts across the UK. In attempts to counter the spread of misinformation, the government even produced an easy-to-read guide on 5G technology.

While 5G technology has been tested and proven safe to humans, many people still have concerns about the safety of this new tech. A recent study conducted by Prolifics Testing shows that the UK ranks second among countries that search Google for reassurance about 5G. According to the study, the US, which ranks first, has an average of 374,700 searches per month about the negative aspects of 5G, while the UK has 93,400. When accounting for the differences in population size between the US and the UK, Britons are at the front of the queue when it comes to concerns about 5G.

Britain’s scepticism when it comes to mobile technology is not something that we should expect to last, particularly as people observe the end of the pandemic despite 5G remaining. We should be confident that this will not be too much of a drawn-out issue, but it may rear its ugly head following TfL’s recent announcement.

Clearly, while we await the downfall of online conspiracy theories, there is a need to crack down on rumours about 5G technology. This is a sentiment shared by the Minister for Digital Infrastructure Matt Warman:

‘Councils have a vital role to play in the rollout of digital infrastructure and while there is good work going on up and down the country, there is more we can do. I’m writing to local authorities with new guidance and advice to help them break down some of the barriers to rollout and give them the tools they need to quell quack theories about 5G.’

Do we really need mobile coverage in the London Underground?

Being connected has become a staple of living in the twenty-first century. It does not come as a shock that TfL is endeavouring to improve its wireless capacity, but is this really the best place to put the taxpayer’s money?

Essential Living conducted research in 2020 to determine the best subway networks in the world. Unsurprisingly, London’s tube network made the list, taking a tidy 5th place behind Mexico City, Tokyo, Shanghai, and Seoul.

When looking at the measures for this study however, some may be left wondering why. In terms of the number of passengers carried, the tube came second to last, with a nonetheless sizeable 1.4bn passengers every year. Naturally, this is suggestive of a more comfortable journey, but it could also suggest that the capacity of the tube isn’t up to scratch.

Earlier this year, concerns were raised when footage emerged of overcrowded tubes causing delays. The surge of early-morning construction workers piling onto the tube proceeded to threaten construction projects around the capital and caused contractors to introduce staggered start times to ease congestion.

The tube also suffered in the rankings due to the relatively low amount of step-free accessible stations.Essential Living measured the number of stations with step-free access at 29%, or 78 of the 270 stations around London. In comparison to the 100% step-free networks of Shanghai and Seoul, there is no competition.

The Underground did fare well in the pet-friendly rating however, as London’s metro appears to be the friendliest network for animals. Unfortunately, this does little to offset the cost, as London clocked in with the priciest monthly ticket at £361.40. In comparison to the £5.00 pass to ride the rails of Mexico City for a month, this is quite an investment.

Cost aside, there are a lot of areas where the London Underground could improve. Ensuring that the network is accessible to all, comfortable to use, and fast enough to avoid congestion are all pressing concerns.

Being able to get online while underground is a bonus to travelling by metro rail. Sadiq Khan has even given the initiative praise for helping the city’s economy:

‘Protecting jobs and stimulating our city’s economy is a top priority for me as London rebuilds after this pandemic and investing in London’s connectivity and digital infrastructure is central to this.’

Naturally, London’s Mayor is correct, stimulating the capital’s economy is important for rebuilding after the pandemic. While the Mayor of London may be optimistic about people’s bandwidth being spent on productive work, you would not be blamed for not sharing his optimism. While survey data from Fetch has shown that 62% of commuters say they spend more time checking their emails than they did two years ago, that’s not all they are up to. 43% of commuters said they used their phone for shopping and ordering food. 59% said social media. 58% said listening to music. 47% said playing games.

The internet is the innovative fabric that connects us all, but it should not overshadow the basic requirements of a public transport network. While checking Instagram or watching a funny cat on TikTok is an easy way to wake up in the morning, it should not come at the expense of higher capacity trains. It should not come before the comfort of passengers, who are often forced to stand undesirably close to strangers’ underarms. It should definitely not come before making every station on the network accessible to everyone.

If London Underground aimed to tackle these challenges before or alongside the rollout of a new mobile network, it would lead to a better tube for everyone. Who knows, it could even get ranked first in the world.

About the Author: Isaac Knowles

Isaac Knowles is a contributing current affairs Features writer. He focuses on social issues which face everyday people and has written on topics such as race, feminism, and poverty. While endeavouring to write in-depth pieces that make real-world impacts, Isaac has developed significant expertise in the fields of politics, economics, and human rights.