NEWS: Channel Tunnel to get mobile phone coverage

NFH

Telegraph: Channel Tunnel to get mobile phone coverage

Daily Mail: Home or away? You'll be able to make a mobile phone call in the Channel Tunnel in time for the Olympics

It sounds as if only the four French networks will be providing coverage, meaning that you'll be roaming as soon as you enter the Folkestone end of the tunnel and will be cut off if you're already on a call, as you can't switch networks in the middle of a call.

robbies_gal

thats no good-why are we always so behind everyone else

NFH

I also wonder where the coverage from French networks will start. French networks are not licensed to transmit GSM signals on UK territory, but maybe they're going to use the premise that France has jurisdiction over part of the Folkestone terminal.

If the French signal spills out to where local UK residents use their phones, then I can foresee all kinds of problems with accidental roaming and consequent charges. For UK Orange and T-Mobile customers, selecting one's home network manually is no longer a viable solution, because there's national roaming between these two networks.

reclusive46

NFH wrote: »

I also wonder where the coverage from French networks will start. French networks are not licensed to transmit GSM signals on UK territory, but maybe they're going to use the premise that France has jurisdiction over part of the Folkestone terminal.

If the French signal spills out to where local UK residents use their phones, then I can foresee all kinds of problems with accidental roaming and consequent charges. For UK Orange and T-Mobile customers, selecting one's home network manually is no longer a viable solution, because there's national roaming between these two networks.

Agreed. I can see issues with this.

Jon_01

Great, we're now going have morons shouting into their phones 'we're under the sea now!'...

So much for a little peace and quite. . .

NFH

Jon_01 wrote: »

Great, we're now going have morons shouting into their phones 'we're under the sea now!'...

Don't forget that many will be doing this from the privacy of their cars.

NFH

Unlike the first two articles, an article today in the Independent points out "it's not yet clear whether your talking, texting and tweeting from the tunnel will be billed as overseas – or, to be precise, underseas – usage". An article in Le Monde on Friday, that precedes the original Telegraph article, says that the agreement will be officially signed between Eurotunnel and the four operators on 6th March in the presence of the French industry minister. It therefore seems likely that more details will become available on Tuesday.

NFH

There's now a press release on Eurotunnel's web site about this, of which the most noteworthy paragraph says:

"The installation of this additional, mobile telecommunications service has been made possible as Eurotunnel is already in the process of installing the latest version of GSM-R2 railway signaling equipment. The choice of the same equipment supplier for both GSM-P and GSM-R, Alcatel-Lucent, will ensure the compatibility of the infrastructure and enable costs to be controlled whilst accelerating the installation. The French operators will provide an extension of their 2G/3G coverage through the South running tunnel (running France-UK) via a transmitter cable and optical repeaters positioned every 750 metres. The North running tunnel (UK-France) will be covered by British operators after the Olympic Games."

For an explanation of GSM-P and GSM-R, see the Wikipedia article about GSM frequency bands. GSM-P is the standard 900Mhz band used for many years by Vodafone and O2, but not by Orange UK, T-Mobile or Three. However, the beginning of the press release mentions "2G (GSM 900,DCS1800) and 3G (UMTS 2100) GSM-P"; it also mentions "a wi-fi service". Eurotunnel seems to be confused about the technology to be implemented as well as the frequency bands.

gjchester

NFH wrote: »

The French operators will provide an extension of their 2G/3G coverage through the South running tunnel (running France-UK) via a transmitter cable and optical repeaters positioned every 750 metres. The North running tunnel (UK-France) will be covered by British operators after the Olympic Games

I understand both UK and French operators were offered the option at the same time, France operaters co-operated, worked together and are getting the hardware in place, the UK side didn't hence the delay..

NFH

gjchester wrote: »

I understand both UK and French operators were offered the option at the same time, France operaters co-operated, worked together and are getting the hardware in place, the UK side didn't hence the delay..

Where did you read this?

Those involved have emphasised the point that the coverage will be there in time for the Olympics. However, this does not seem to be the case at all. Those travelling from France to the Olympics will be cut off as soon as they enter the tunnel and will not get a signal until they come out at the British end, i.e. no change from the status quo. Only those travelling away from the Olympics will get any benefit whereby the French networks will provide coverage from the British end of the tunnel and onwards into France.

gjchester

NFH wrote: »

Where did you read this?

Sorry can't point you to a printed source, it came from a friend who worked putting infrastructure in for one of the big 4, and was involved in the process for a while. When they last worked on the project the timelines are pretty tight to get it in place in time now, it's possible but unlikley.

Given Vodafone have just objected to Oranges 4G rollout you can see how company politics get in the way.

I think it's the other way around though, initially folks coming from France to the UK have coverage (be that at normal rates to people on french networks and roaming to everyone else), where as leaving the UK you get no coverage.