Podcast: Why is it so difficult to provide coverage for trains?

LS telcom UK’s Saul Friedner explains the challenges of mobile and Wi-Fi passenger connectivity on trains, drawing on examples from the UK.

We also hear from Finnish ICT industry association Ficom’s Managing Director Elina Ussa (from 26:40), who discusses the situation in Finland. There are practical challenges to providing high-speed connections to rail passengers, ranging from seeking solutions to allowing radio waves to pass through aluminium-walled carriages.

Demand for reliable connections from customers is driving the discussion on rail connectivity. In the UK, where PolicyTracker is based, mobile and Wi-Fi connections for train passengers are an evergreen talking point. So much so that during the parliamentary election campaign earlier this year, one of comedy candidate Lord Buckethead’s key pledges was to deliver “WiFi on a train that works”. Ussa discusses the challenges the technology and rail industries face in meeting customer expectations.

On the operational side, the European rail industry is preparing to move from the old communication standard GSM-R to FRMCS. We consider what this will mean for the rail industry and spectrum use.

Listen to the new podcast below. You can also find it on all major podcast platforms.