LONDON, Dec 13 — Eurotunnel has announced the availability of 4G coverage throughout the Chunnel, the underwater passage connecting the UK and France, starting yesterday, December 12.
As of yesterday, passengers aboard high-speed trains through the shuttle, 100 metres under sea level, can use an ultra-high-speed connection to access the internet on their smartphones, tablets and other devices. Previously, passengers had access to 2G and 3G coverage, which have been available across the entire length of the Channel Tunnel since the start of 2014.
French operators are in charge of supplying the network for the south tunnel (traveling from France to the UK), while the north tunnel is covered by British operators.
For the time being, Vodafone, EE and O2 offer 4G service in the north tunnel, while Bouygues Télécom is the only French operator offering the service in the opposite direction. From May 2015, the French operator’s subscribers will also be able to take advantage of 4G connectivity while traveling towards France thanks to roaming agreements with the British companies.
“This new service means we can offer our customers incredible connectivity and astonishing access to mobile services, bringing better information for passengers, allowing them to remain operational and make their journey a real opportunity to relax,” said Michel Boudoussier, chief operating officer at Eurotunnel.
To celebrate the launch of 4G services, the company that manages the Channel Tunnel will host a concert by the French band Archimède aboard a high-speed shuttle. The event takes place yesterday at 7:00pm Paris time and will be broadcast live over a 4G network on the BBC and on the French networks LCI and France 3 Nord-Pas-de-Calais. — AFP-Relaxnews
