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South West Trains Extends WiFi Coverage Still Further – this Time with Icomera
(04 Apr 2016, BWCS Staff)Icomera says it has won the contract to supply free WiFi on board South West Trains’ fleet of Class 158 /159 trains. The project will see UK/Swedish WiFi specialist install its mobile Internet connectivity system on 41 trains, in addition to those already kitted out for WiFi by Nomad Digital (see below). For the first time WiFi will be available on services running West of Salisbury, which will come as a relief to passengers who have long petitioned for such an extension. Icomera has a long-standing relationship with Stagecoach Group, which owns South West Trains.
Last month, the train operator announced that, thanks to an agreement with Nomad Digital, it was able to offer passenger WiFi on 127 of its Class 450 trains. This followed recent work by the Newcastle based tech supplier which had previously put WiFi onto South West’s 45 Class 444 ‘Desiro’ trains. At the time, South West Trains reported that free WiFi was now available on more than half of all its services. This equates to around 5,545 train services per week. The latest addition, via Icomera, will boost that number still further.
The UK has for some time been a leader in the on-train WiFi field and the sector is set to receive a further boost later this year. Not only is the Department for Transport weighing plans to improve connectivity along the national rail network, but increased competition should also push more operators to install on-train WiFi and improve passenger services in a bid to fend off rivals.
Last month a report by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in the UK revealed that an increase in on-rail competition should lead to benefits for passengers and taxpayers. The project, which began in January 2015 examined the scope for greater rail competition for passengers and highlighted a range of benefits that can arise from allowing other operators to run competing services against existing franchise operators. As well as cheaper fares, greater competition is likely to bring improved passenger services – especially on-Train WiFi as TOCs compete to woo passengers onto their trains.
The expanding market for on-board WiFi services as well as the problems of intermittent mobile coverage, proposed trackside solutions and other issues facing the UK and the rest of the World will all be covered in this year’s WiFi on Trains Conference hosted by BWCS. For more information please see www.Traincomms2016.com or contact Ross.Parsons@BWCS.com .
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