Streetwave Tests UK Mobile Operator Performance on District Line Trains
Network analyst firm Streetwave has published the partial results from a new study that compared the real-world mobile network (4G, 5G) and mobile broadband performance from EE, O2, Vodafone and Three UK across the District Line, which runs from Whitechapel to Wimbledon.
The tube journey involved in this study typically connects Whitechapel to Wimbledon – lasting over 50 minutes – and goes through zones 1-3. Streetwave is understood to have taken their portable data collection equipment onboard for one of these trips, thus the results below should be considered fairly anecdotal, albeit still interesting.
The test itself was conducted on 28th April 2026 and started at 4:58pm from Whitechapel, with the train being full during the rush hour journey. Streetwave then recorded the Basic Coverage scores for each operator, which reflects locations where mobile users can access data speeds of above 1Mbps download, 0.5Mbps upload, and below 100ms (milliseconds) of latency (i.e. supporting only the most basic of use cases or needs).
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Basic Coverage Scores on District Line to Wimbledon
Put another way, the company’s simulated passenger on each mobile network spent the following amount of time WITHOUT a dependable internet connection on the journey: Three UK – 34 minutes, O2 – 33 minutes, Vodafone – 29 minutes and EE – 23 minutes. In addition, Streetwave also provided ISPreview with the mobile broadband speeds for each operator on the same trip.
UPDATE:
Credits to Matthew Skipsey for kindly providing a picture of the District line train.
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads.net and Linkedin.
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Sorry but I’m going to be that person… Mark, I’m sure you can source an image of an S-Stock train as used on the District Line!
If only you knew the legal complexities of copyright permissions for websites these days, it’s not always easy, especially for something a bit more niche like this.
Yes… But….. A class 158???!!!!
I’ve shared a photo I took this week of an S7 District Line train with you Mark.
Also happened to be heading to Wimbledon.
Although for the eagle eyed amongst you, it may be not on the same route as this test!
I use the Wimbledon branch regularly. It’s frustrating given the shallow, cut-and-cover and open air route that the performance isn’t better. Once you approach Earls Court, it starts to go downhill. It’s patchy to Victoria, and then it’s basically inoperable until you get to the Boldyn upgraded stations/tunnels.
Hopefully the Boldyn TFL upgrades will help fix this by the end of this year.
So, once again, Vodafone is NOT the best network in London?
Interesting. This could be more realistic than the reports using council trucks (I still question the validity of those reports as I cannot find any reference to antenna height in the reports).
But, it should also be worrying for the public safety users as EE is part of the ESN system replacing Airwave.
Someone needs to tell Copilot what a district line train looks like 🙂
You didn’t read the comments did you?
The Picture has been changed now