Reliable internet for trains

[AM9]

Back in 2004 I remember the mobile phone coverage coming to the Tyne and Wear Metro and at the time I thought it would only be a matter of time before a similar thing happened to the London Underground however 15 years later the London Underground is nowhere near that level.

I suppose one problem is what is more important WiFi or ability to make telephone calls as the wifi is useful as if its free it doesn't come out of one's mobile data but at the same time its useful being able to make calls.

In 2004, the cost of providing even a basic phone coverage underground with the very high level of potentioal users would be prohibitively expensive, - if indeed it would be viable anyway.

 

[Skie]

Relay of 4/5G networks into train is probably the way to go. It's up to the providers to ensure that the signal outside the train is satisfactory. If you are travelling fast, that's not the fault of the providers, (nor the railway). If you actually need the continuous handoff then the simplest remedy is a portable charger (battery). Costs a few pounds and gives you complete control.
The railway is not responsible for providing the feed to the route of the railway, that's the provider's obligation, (they are very keen to claim 95% coverage when advertising. Maybe they will have to be honest about coverage of key transport corridors if they want the business form those who use their phones when travelling.

I don't agree. If Merseyrail can cover their entire network with a dedicated high speed shore to train network that gives them live CCTV, communications and passenger Wi-Fi then why can't others? Especially where infrastructure is shared so the cost is split. 4g/5g have massive limitations when it comes to fast moving vehicles and there is really no incentive for mobile providers to cover sections of the railway. Remember, the claims of 99% coverage are population coverage, not landmass.

If the Merseyrail system is successful from an infrastructure perspective (CCTV, passenger info, 2 way comminations and real-time passenger loading data) then I can imagine other operators wanting to introduce it when they refurb or replace stock. The fact it can also solve the passenger data problem is just a bonus.

 

[jon0844]

Networks are measured for things like dropped calls, so they do have incentives to cover things like railway lines. If they don't, someone else likely will. It's a competitive market and one that EE and Vodafone are clearly winning today. Tomorrow Three will have an edge with stacks of 5G spectrum, but that won't mean much if they don't build the network out sufficiently (and they're spending quite a lot less than the others).

EE also has the emergency services network and with the use of 800MHz (and likely next year or so, 700MHz for 5G) is working towards 95% geographic coverage of the UK. Its target was 2020 but I am not sure it will make that, but it will happen.

 

[camflyer]

Doubt your phone works underground or in longer tunnels!

I've been on Pendolinos often enough to appreciate just having a wifi connection can vastly help increase your battery life. Cell data only and the phones losing about 40% even without using it, but connect it to the free wifi and the phones battery usage is vastly reduced as it can stop screaming out for rapidly changing towers and instead do it's communication over wifi (assuming your device and mobile network support wifi calling).

Actually, I have been in long deep rail tunnels in Switzerland and my mobile has continued to work. The ECML can hardly cope with bridges without a cutout.