London Tube closes the 5G gap with streets above

London's Underground network is now nearly on par with streets above in terms of 5G availability and signal strength, according to analysis by Ookla. The company reported that about 60 percent of below-ground stations have 5G coverage, with the entire network expected to be connected by the end of 2024. Where available, 5G speeds and signal strength on the Tube were comparable to above-ground figures, thanks to the infrastructure designed for 5G support from the beginning.

A survey of over 50 million signal scans collected in Greater London between March and April found that 19.8 percent of underground scans connected over 5G, compared to 16.5 percent above ground. Median 4G strength on the Tube platforms was -96 dBm, while street-level readings were -98 dBm. Notably, where 5G was available below ground, it had a stronger median signal of -93 dBm than the citywide above-ground median of -98 dBm.

However, it's worth noting that the above-ground figures represent a London-wide average and not a direct comparison with the streets directly over each station. Ookla lead industry analyst Luke Kehoe pointed out that the Tube's advantage is primarily due to its underground location, where the surface network is already strong. While the Tube has achieved roughly level performance in the stations that have been connected, it is still behind in areas not covered by the Underground.