Are 5GEE mobile broadband customers eligible for London Underground EE WiFi?

[kat0id]

Hi all.

I have a 5GEE router at home, and as this uses a sim, I have an EE mobile number. Am I eligible for EE WiFi-Auto on the underground?

From what I have read online it seems I need to have an EE sim in my phone, but I have also seen some people saying you can use the network on a WiFi only iPad - so would be good to get clarification if any one can help. 

[XRaySpeX]

Is it on contract or PAYG?

[kat0id]

Contract.

[XRaySpeX]

Maybe! EE Underground WiFi is available to all WiFi-enabled devices with an EE SIM.

Your mobile router has an EE SIM but I find it hard to see how it can act as a client to EE Underground WiFi. Yes, it is WiFi-enabled but only as a WAP to serve other devices, not for connecting to other hotspots.

Furthermore if you had another device connected by WiFi to the mobile router that you are wanting to use EE Underground WiFi, it can't be connected to both at the same time.

[kat0id]

Thanks for your response, that makes sense.

For anyone with the same question, here's a response I received from EE via Twitter (edited for brevity):

The security authentication for the London underground is done through an EE sim card so you would need to have it the device to connect. The authentication will be required every time.

So putting the sim in your phone for one journey to connect, and then swopping back, is not possible

[XRaySpeX]

I don't see that from EE's statement. It doesn't say that the SIM must remain for the whole session, just to authenticate it. It is possible to put the router's SIM in your mobile phone every time you want it to use EE Underground WiFi. It might be slightly messy.

[kat0id]

Yes that's correct, sorry - I had asked them if I could for example put the sim in my phone for 1 journey to authenticate and then not need to do that every time.

So if you are willing to take your mobile broadband sim with you every time you leave home/ plan to go on the tube it is an option 😊

[XRaySpeX]

That's right!