Skip to main content

High speed surfing in France and Italy

Two announcements on the same day – from the OCEA Consortium and from Andrew Solutions - have reported overcoming the challenges of internet access in high-speed trains travelling at over 200mph (320km/h) in France and Italy. The technological achievements realised by the consortium have risen to the challenge of ensuring service at high speed in a high voltage electrical environment, and integrating the system's maintenance into the overall maintenance schedules of a high-speed network with no impact on th
May 18, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
Two announcements on the same day – from the OCEA Consortium and from Andrew Solutions - have reported overcoming the challenges of internet access in high-speed trains travelling at over 200mph (320km/h) in France and Italy.

The technological achievements realised by the consortium have risen to the challenge of ensuring service at high speed in a high voltage electrical environment, and integrating the system's maintenance into the overall maintenance schedules of a high-speed network with no impact on the rotation of trains.

"Providing Internet connectivity at 320 km/h was a new challenge that we are all proud to have successfully addressed for the SNCF," commented Philippe Roger of 5636 Orange Business Services.
Meanwhile, 1983 Telecom Italia called on Andrew Solutions’ 950 CommScope division to provide its equipment, commissioning services, and expertise in support of 2G and 3G wireless networks on 5637 Trenitalia Frecciarossa high speed trains. The Frecciarossa high speed train line is the fastest in Trenitalia’s fleet, with speeds reaching between 300-350 kilometers per hour.

As part of the new coverage and capacity project led by Telecom Italia, Andrew’s in-train solution is extending reliable wireless signals to passengers and staff on all 60 Frecciarossa trains. High speed trains’ metalised windows can dramatically reduce signal penetration into the carriages, resulting in spotty coverage and an increase of dropped calls. The pure speed of high speed trains complicates the hand off of wireless signals between base stations. And the complexities of different terrain and rapidly changing outdoor signal levels of the various networks involved increase the complexity.

Andrew’s wireless coverage solution is helping produce elongated cells that reduce the number of handovers required while boosting signal strength within the handover region. The company supplied about 600 Node AM dual band digital repeaters and kilometres of Radiax radiating cable with connectors and accessories, in addition to helping design and commission the wireless coverage system. An Andrew Node AM repeater, pickup antenna for GSM 900 MHz/UMTS 2100 MHz/GPS frequency bands, and metres of Radiax are installed in each Frecciarossa train carriage.

Related Content

  • June 20, 2019
    Antaira launches industrial dual radio wireless unit
    Antaira Technologies has launched its ARS-7231-AC series, an industrial dual radio wireless unit with router capabilities, which it says can be used in ITS and traffic applications. The solution, embedded with the Qualcomm Atheros QCA9892 chipset, is expected to offer a wide network coverage with a low-voltage input of 9V and support. According to Antaira, the device can be used as an access point, transparent bridge or repeater. These units allow users to position the wireless antennas in a better sign
  • December 9, 2014
    Wireless bridges widen options for ITS upgrades
    Antaira Technologies’ marketing engineer Brian Roth explains why the increasing capacity of wireless bridges is reducing the cost of expanding and upgrading ITS networks. With more than half of the world’s population now living in cities, the need for efficient transportation of both people and goods has never been greater and that pressure is unlikely to ease any time soon. Indeed in many regions of the world the rate of urbanisation is still increasing as the demand for rural workers continues to decline.
  • April 2, 2012
    Kapsch equips high speed line in Spain with latest train communication technology
    Kapsch CarrierCom has successfully implemented the latest train security and communication technology on the first high speed line in the Galicia region in the North West of Spain. The route between Orense and Santiago covers 87 km of tracks with 29 km of tunnels through a very mountainous area. Kapsch has been the Base Station Subsystem (BSS) GSM-R system turnkey supplier including network design, network integration and optimisation to the project. The company has also supplied all site infrastructure req
  • April 10, 2015
    Intuicom, Econolite awarded ITS communications systems upgrade
    Traffic and intelligent transportation systems (ITS) supplier Intuicom has been awarded the traffic signal communication system upgrade by the City of Pueblo, Colorado. The award, made in conjunction with Intuicom’s technology partner, Econolite Group, followed extensive testing by the City’s Traffic Maintenance Division to validate system compatibility and the high-capacity throughput required of the radios to support Pueblo’s new array of Centracs traffic signal central operating system. The projec