Press Release | 02 Apr 2018

Planes, Trains and Smart Mobiles: Vodafone has Heathrow and Heathrow Express covered

Millions of passengers can now benefit from fast 4G and reliable voice coverage.

Heathrow Airport
Control tower and apron area at Heathrow Airport

Millions of passengers can now benefit from fast 4G and reliable voice coverage

Vodafone customers worldwide, who make up a large number of Heathrow’s 78 million passengers every year and the six million annual users of Heathrow Express, will be able to access 4G inside all terminals, trains and tunnels, as Vodafone makes major network improvements across the airport.

The new Vodafone system will give customers high quality voice connections and faster mobile data speeds throughout the airport’s terminals, even on days when more than a quarter of a million people could be passing through. Travellers will be able to quickly reply to emails, download business presentations or update their social media status, giving them more time to relax and ensuring they never miss important emails or calls.

The airport will have the latest technology across the 1,227-hectare site, with engineers working through the night to avoid any disruption to passengers.  Meanwhile, 4G coverage is currently being extended along the eight kilometres of tunnels connecting the airport’s terminals.  Travellers on Heathrow Express trains can also enjoy uninterrupted voice and data on any of the 150 services which run every day to and from London Paddington station.

Vodafone UK’s Chief Technology Officer Scott Petty, said: “Heathrow is an extremely important hub for our millions of customers worldwide, whether they are travelling on holiday or on business.  This major improvement is part of our multi-billion investment programme to build our strongest UK network. It will give customers great coverage from the moment they step on or off their flight, to traveling on the Heathrow Express.”

John Arbuckle, Head of Property at Heathrow, added: “This update, in partnership with Vodafone, is another step towards ensuring a seamless experience for passengers, as well as secure connectivity for business partners across the airport.”

Fraser Brown, Heathrow Express Director, explained: “Heathrow Express may be the fastest way to reach Heathrow from central London but customers still want to use this 15 minutes to call colleagues, family or friends on the go. These upgrades mean passengers can stay connected with uninterrupted coverage on board our services through the tunnels and into Heathrow.”

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Notes to editors:

  • With 82 countries served by Heathrow Airport, Vodafone’s 4G roaming to more than 137 destinations worldwide also ensures that customers can benefit from a consistent high-speed mobile service whether they are in transit or travelling overseas. For more information on Vodafone roaming visit www.vodafone.co.uk/travelling

 

 

About Vodafone UK

Vodafone UK is a technology communications company that connects people, businesses and devices to help our customers benefit from digital innovation. Our services span mobile, fixed-line connections, home and office broadband, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

We have a strong track record as a tech pioneer, making the UK’s first mobile phone call, sending the first text message, and making the UK’s first live holographic call using 5G in 2018. We were the first to start carrying live 5G traffic from a site in Salford, Greater Manchester and now have 5G in locations across Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain as well as the UK. Meanwhile, our 4G network coverage currently reaches over 99% of the UK population.

Today, Vodafone serves more than 18 million mobile and fixed-line customers in the UK. Vodafone is the largest provider of full fibre in the UK – our superfast broadband services are now available to nearly 12 million homes across the UK.

Sustainability is also at the heart of what we do: as of 1 July 2021, 100% of the grid electricity we use in the UK is certified to be from renewable sources.

For more information about Vodafone UK, please visit: www.vodafone.co.uk.

Vodafone UK Media Relations

Telephone: +44 (0) 1635 693 693

Email: ukmediarelations@vodafone.com

Twitter: @VodafoneUKNews

Website: https://vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/

Vodafone Limited

Registered Office: Vodafone House, The Connection, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2FN

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