News

Cuba Libre – or not, as National Train Operator Mulls Charging Passengers for WiFi

(28 Mar 2025, BWCS Staff)
WiFi on trains in Cuba has moved a step closer to reality. According to national paper of record, Granna, a lengthy trial of internet on board services has now been completed. State-owned telco, Soluciones Integrales de Telecomunicaciones S.A. (Solintel), which organised the project, says that all that is needed now is a business model and a way to finance the full roll-out. Solintel’s president, Robelis Lambert Matos, explained that the project represents an “added value for the railroad, which will allow a new level of comfort.” Matos did not specify which of the routes......

Icomera Tests Starlink for WiFi on Trains in the Artic Circle

(17 Mar 2025, BWCS Staff)
Not to be outdone by ScotRail’s 2024 test of LEO Satellite-delivered broadband to trains in the far North of Scotland, Icomera has been busy trialing WiFi connectivity using Starlink satellite Services in Sweden’s Artic Circle. Of course, US newcomer to the train scene, Brightline, was the first transport company to commercially employ Starlink to supply high-speed WiFi on its trains, but Icomera was keen to try the option across a more sparsely-populated part of the world. Given the lack of mobile phone masts strung out across the tundra up near Lapland, it would seem that......

Ofcom Sets Aside 5G Spectrum for Rail Comms

(17 Mar 2025, BWCS Staff)
UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has announced plans to ear-mark part of the 1900MHz spectrum (1900-1920MHz) to the rail industry. The slice of radio band had been given to the national mobile operators but has not been picked up by them. Instead, Ofcom wants to make it available for use on the rail network for 5G mobile/broadband services and for the UK’s 4G Emergency Services Network. Due to the MNOs’ reluctance to take up this “unpaired 2100MHz band” to sup[ply higher-power services the UK regulator has been investigating alternative uses for it and it seems rail......