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DSB Issues Tender for Improved WiFi on Trains Service
(01 Jun 2017, BWCS Staff)Ahead of next week’s WiFi on Trains Conference in London, the Danish national train operator (DSB) has issued a tender to supply it with better train WiFi services. While DSB says its customers are “very satisfied” with the current WiFi set-up, it admits that coverage could certainly be better. A view echoed by many train travellers in the country.
The company says it hopes to improve internet and mobile coverage on trains “to make it contemporary and meet customer needs so passengers are able to utilise their travel time efficiently”. Measures to do this will include installing repeaters on its trains to boost signals and expanding the Danish rail mast network along the track.
Last year, the Danish government announced plans to pour DKKr100 million (€13.4 million) into improving mobile and internet connections on trains. In a break-through scheme, the Copenhagen administration said the money will be used to expand rail administrator Banedanmark’s national network of radio-masts at up to 75 track-side locations.
Announcing the investment, Transport and Construction Minister, Hans Christian Schmidt, said “I am very pleased that we have now started a project to improve mobile and Internet penetration in our trains. I know that many people - especially commuters - spend time on the train to work, and a more stable internet be a great help for many who use the train as a workplace.”
The project to improve internet coverage on the trains in Denmark involved close collaboration between DSB, Arriva, Banedanmark, Telia, TDC Group, Telenor and the telecommunications company 3. After some tough and lengthy negotiations, initially facilitated by a team from BWCS, the parties finally agreed a common solution and way forward acceptable to all.
Meanwhile, DSB says it will adjust WiFi capacity to specific passengers’ needs – for example, it plans to offer a different WiFi capacity for passengers who are e-mailing rather than streaming – so customers have the opportunity to work effectively on the train.
“Our goal is that customers will be able to change the travel time to working,” said Aske Wieth-Knudsen, head of DSB Product .
The next generation of WiFi to be installed on DSB trains is expected to be completed by the end of 2019..
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