Prague’s entire metro network now has full mobile coverage

Prague metro passengers have enjoyed near-total mobile signal coverage for almost two years, except for the Jiřího z Poděbrad (JzP) metro station, which was undergoing renovation. Now that the station is fully operational, Prague’s entire network of 61 metro stations offers either long-term evolution (LTE) or 5G connectivity.

Full coverage entails connection not only in the station vestibules (entrance halls) but also at stations’ deepest points and connecting tunnels between stations. Internet connection is available to customers of all operators who use mobile data.

A collaboration between network operators T-Mobile, O2, Vodafone, and CETIN, begun in 2015 and completed in 2021, brought mobile technology to the entire metro network at a cost of over CZK 500 million, according to the Prague Public Transport Company (DPP).

This has been a process that has taken longer than eight years – stations such as Nemocnice Motol and Petřiny on the A line received connectivity in April 2015, whereas Střížkov and Prosek on the C line didn’t have full service till December 2021.

Looking ahead to the ongoing construction of the new metro line D, mobile signal coverage is expected to be integrated from the outset at all of its stations.

Vladan Pekovič, T-Mobile's director of technology and IT, noted that they are working with other operators to incorporate technology and antenna systems into the project documentation for the new D metro section, ensuring that coverage aligns with station construction.

As for Wi-Fi, there are no near-term plans to reintroduce the service on Prague’s metro system. In the summer of 2020, DPP cut free Wi-Fi services in all eight stations that offered it – including Muzeum, Náměstí Republiky, and Florenc. The reason for this was to focus on LTE and 5G development.