Network Rail has awarded a 25-year contract to Cellnex UK to provide continuous connectivity on the 51-mile stretch from London Bridge and Victoria stations, via Clapham Junction and East Croydon, all the way to Brighton. 

The new infrastructure will provide extra capacity for UK Mobile Network Operators thanks to the installation of towers that allow broadcasting of mobile signal along the railway, a small number of equipment boxes near to the railway to house the telecoms equipment, a high capacity fiber cable running the entire length of the mainline, and bespoke radio equipment to ensure uninterrupted coverage in tunnels and cuttings in the railway.

The program is expected to take around 2 to 3 years to deliver, but the benefits will be switched on along the way with connectivity expected in London Bridge and London Victoria stations by April 2022.