News
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Icomera Launches WiFi-7 On-Train Access Points
(22 Sep 2023, BWCS Staff)Swedish-UK Passenger connectivity supplier, Icomera, is set to launch a brand new, rail grade access point capable of supporting WiFi-7. In what the Equans-owned company claims is a world-first, the new A2, hardware will be able to support what it calls “the latest and most advanced generation of wireless technology.” According to a press statement from Icomera, it expects demand for connectivity to trains to increase greatly in the coming years. This, it says, will be based on the utilisation of ever better communications networks (cellular, trackside, satellite etc.),......
New WiFi Supplier for Indian Railways' Eastern Division
(11 Sep 2023, BWCS Staff)Indian IT and Digital Media company, Cressanda Solutions, has signed a deal with Eastern Railways Division of Indian Railways to provide on-board WiFi, IT solutions and digital media and advertising services to more than 500 trains. The contract is valid for five years. However, the value of the agreement has not been revealed. According to local press reports, Cressanda has won the rights to advertise on the interior and exterior surfaces of over 500 Mail, Express, Premium, Inter-city and Local trains. Eastern Railways covers some 2,848km of track and operates services covering Howrah,......
Another Operator Chooses Starlink for WiFi on Train Connectivity…
(31 Aug 2023, BWCS Staff)Despite being embroiled in a war of survival with its neighbour, Ukraine has managed to find the time and money to kit out its trains with on-board Internet access. National train operator Ukrainian Railways (UZ) says it has signed local telecom supplier Winncom to install connectivity equipment on its fleet of Intercity trains. According to press reports, the deal will cost some 78.9 million Hryvnia (US$2.14 million). While Winncom will handle the supply, installation, and commissioning of the on-train WiFi system, the actual connectivity will be provided by satellite operator Starlink.......
US Train Operator Signs Nomad and Evo-Rail for Trackside 5G
(18 Jul 2023, BWCS Staff)UK-based rail tech company evo-rail has been signed up to provide its rail-5G solution to the Caltrain network. The project, on the US West Coast, will see evo-rail partner with Nomad Digital and Alstom, to install a high-speed, high-capacity wireless network alongside the newly electrified line between San José and San Francisco in Northern California. Simon Holmes, CEO of evo-rail, said: "We're excited to bring our rail-5G solution to Caltrain. This cutting-edge technology will help Caltrain to deliver a safer, more reliable, and efficient rail transportation system for its customers and......
SNCF Signs Major Multi-Year Internet On-Board Deal with Nomad Digital
(07 Jul 2023, BWCS Staff)UK-based transport connectivity specialist Nomad Digital, reports that it has been signed by SNCF Voyageurs to upgrade the on-board WiFi service. The deal, which Nomad says is a four-year base frame contract, contains an option for a three-year extension, and will see the Newcastle-based company install its Internet On-Board 5G solution on the French company’s high-speed trains (TGV INOUI). Nomad signed the deal following a comprehensive Public Tender exercise which lasted nine months. The terms call for the upgrading of up to 355 TGV INOUI high-speed trains across France. It also......
DB to Trial Trackside 5G in Major New Project
(15 Jun 2023, BWCS Staff)In an important development for the niche world of Train Communications Systems, Deutsche Bahn has secured government funding to trial trackside 5G connectivity. The German Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) is to pump €6.4 million into a scheme that will examine how best to achieve reliable 5G on trains by next year. The newly-launched Gigabit Innovation Track (GINT) project will involve mobile kit giant Ericsson, operator O2 Telefónica, and base station company Vantage Towers. Together with Deutsche Bahn, the partners will attempt to provide gigabit, 5G speeds to train......
UK Government Questions Value of On-Board WiFi Services -Sparks Backlash
(23 May 2023, BWCS Staff)The UK Department for Transport appears to have thrown down the gauntlet to train companies to prove that on-board WiFi is worth having. The move comes amid a government review of costs as it looks to “reform all aspects of the railway”. However, leading industry experts have rebuffed the idea arguing that WiFi on trains is now seen as a fundamental service “as important as toilets” and must be maintained to help persuade passengers back on board. Almost all UK train operators provide free on-board WiFi as standard, but, according to Christian Wolmar’s......
US Train Operator Plucks Starlink out of the Sky for WiFi on Board Services
(10 May 2023, BWCS Staff)New Florida intercity train company, Brightline, is to use satellite delivered broadband to connect its entire fleet. The company, which runs services up and down the Sunshine State, will join unlikely bed-fellows Ukraine Railways and Lithuanian Railways in signing up to use SpaceX’s Starlink satellite service to supply WiFi on board. Brightline has confirmed that Starlink’s internet connectivity is currently available on its fleet of five trains running between Miami and West Palm Beach. It also says the service will be added to the new five-train fleet that run routes from......
New Survey Highlights Mobile Coverage Gaps on UK Rail Lines
(03 May 2023, BWCS Staff)Barely three weeks since the UK government addressed the lack of rail track mobile coverage in its Wireless Infrastructure Strategy paper, a mobile network analysis company has seemingly clarified the extent of the problem. To almost no-one’s surprise, a newly-published coverage survey by Streetwave addressing the main line from Edinburgh to London found a series of “not-spots” (areas of no mobile network coverage). However, the overall speed of mobile internet connection, when connected, was not bad and some mobile companies fared better than others. Overall, the data......
Lithuanian Trains to Test Starlink Supplied WiFi On-Board
(25 Apr 2023, BWCS Staff)Lithuanian Railways (LTG) is to be the latest train company to participate in the rejuvenation of satellite as a means of supplying broadband to trains. The national rail operator this week announced plans to test Internet on its trains provided by Starlink satellites. The three-month pilot project is slated to start sometime this quarter. Once one of the contenders to be a central channel for delivery of broadband to trains, satellite appears to be making a come-back in the train-to-shore connectivity stakes. Recently CGI, started work with the UK’s Department for Digital, Culture,......
Northern Completes t’Digital Upgrade …
(11 Apr 2023, BWCS Staff)Northern has completed a three-year project to improve on-board technology on its trains. The operator’s ‘digital train’ programme was a multi-million pound investment scheme to bring the older trains in its fleet up to date and provide them with the same digital facilities as the 101 new trains introduced into service two years ago. In total, Northern has refitted 233 trains with WiFi, HD CCTV cameras, live passenger information screens, passenger counting and 17,200 USB charging sockets. The Northern franchise comprises one of the two main rail networks serving the......
UK Government Aims to Boost Reporting of Coverage Gaps on Train Lines and Launches Satellite Trials Fund
(11 Apr 2023, BWCS Staff)A Policy Paper from the UK government, released today, has put “Fixing coverage reporting, including on trains and in rural areas” as one of its leading objectives. However, the document, entitled “UK Wireless Infrastructure Strategy”, makes little mention of how such gaps, once discovered, should be eliminated. The government points to what it says will be “Substantial investments in telecoms and a new Wireless Infrastructure Strategy to put the UK at the forefront of science and technology, harness enterprise and innovation and drive economic......
NetSkrt Teams up with BAI in Battle to Improve On-Train Connectivity
(29 Mar 2023, BWCS Staff)Netskrt Systems and BAI Communications (BAI), soon to rebrand as Boldyn Networks, have announced plans to work together to enhance train passengers’ on-board WiFi experience. A statement from the two companies outlines how BAI will integrate Netskrt’s eCDN for Rail solution. The system deploys content delivery intelligence in the cloud and provides video caches on each train. BAI says it will combine this with its connected transport solution to give rail operators a seamless, easy to deploy and manage connectivity solution. The move is designed to help overcome the......
Cuban Train Passengers: “Havana Get Connected”
(20 Mar 2023, BWCS Staff)Cuba is set to be the latest country to launch WiFi on its trains. According to local news reports, state-owned Soluciones Integrales de Telecomunicaciones S.A. (Solintel) has embarked on a project to install Internet access for passengers traveling on trains as part of the process of “informatization of society.” These days, the World Bank estimates that around 70% of Cubans have access to the Internet. However, it is neither free nor fast – rather like the trains. Solintel’s president, Robelis Lambert Matos, explained that the project represents an “added......
RENFE Signs Headline Deal for Online Passengers
(07 Mar 2023, BWCS Staff)Spanish national train operator RENFE has signed up PressReader to provide an "all-you-can-read" online content service. The deal will see RENFE’s passengers gain access to the Canadian company’s extensive platform of digital newspapers and magazines. PressReader is keen to point out that its raft of titles will be available to train passengers in Spain before departure as well as on board. The service will be built into RENFE’s existing on-train passenger offering – PlayRENFE and will also be made available to all ticket purchasers via a text message with an access......
Huge UK Trackside Telecoms Deal Edges Closer
(21 Feb 2023, BWCS Staff)Neos Networks, formerly known as SSE Telecoms, has emerged as the preferred bidder for Network Rail’s Project Reach. While this does not mean Neos has won the day, it is at least in the driving seat to partner Network Rail in its £1 billion drive to upgrade around 16,000km of trackside cable network and add new wireless masts. Last year, both Neos Networks (bidding alongside Cellnex) and Virgin Media (bidding alongside Nokia and Jacobs) were approved to bid to be NR’s partner in the huge trackside telecoms upgrade. Neos said it will invest in the design and......
Transport for Wales Launches New WiFi Portal
(01 Feb 2023, BWCS Staff)Government-owned Welsh train operator, Transport for Wales (TfW), has launched a new on-train WiFi portal across its fleet. The portal, developed by GoMedia, features real time information, enables passengers to submit in-journey feedback and even share their journey information with friends and family. GoMedia points out that the portal uses data sources and GPS mapping to provide expected arrival and departure times, relevant platform numbers, onward travel options and other useful info. TfW has been operating all services within Wales since the 7th February 2021 (succeeding KeolisAmey......
PaxLife and onway Combine to Win Northern Italian On-Train Systems Tender
(18 Jan 2023, BWCS Staff)PaxLife Innovations in Germany and Swiss-based onway, have jointly won the tender to supply an on-train WiFi and Infotainment System to Südtiroler Transportstrukturen AG (STA) in northern Italy. The pair emerged victorious in a public tender held by STA. Under the terms of the deal, Paxlife and onway will operate and maintain the new on-board systems – including the routers, hotspot controllers, media servers and central management system - for a period of at least six years. The contact also has an option to extend this period. The system will be installed on 25 Stadler ETR 170......
Cellnex Signs First Customer for Enhanced Trackside Network
(11 Jan 2023, BWCS Staff)Neutral host company Cellnex has signed up Three UK as its first mobile customer on the busy London to Brighton Line. The supplier has a 25-year deal with Network Rail to provide enhanced connectivity along the route and Three is the first of the four UK mobile companies to sign up to use it. The deal will give Three access to Cellnex’s recently deployed, trackside and station distributed antenna systems, which will cover the 51-mile mainline route. According to Cellnex, customers of Three UK will be able to experience “noticeable improvements to their mobile and data......
Nomad Digital Awarded Contracts to Provide Broadband Communication Services for New Caltrain Fleet
(06 Jan 2023, BWCS Staff)Nomad Digital has won two contracts from US West Coast train operator Caltrain. The deals will see the UK based company, supply, implement, operate and maintain a turnkey Trackside Radio Network for Caltrain. The projects will run on the newly electrified line between San Francisco and San José and both include associated on-train services. According to a report from the supplier, it will install a Radio Network alongside the track using mmWave radio technology to deliver gigabit broadband performance. The complete end-to-end network architecture includes the use of next generation train......
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