T-Mobile to provide unbroken web coverage on trains

by Daniel Farey-Jones, Brand Republic 18-Feb-05, 08:00

LONDON – T-Mobile is to provide a broadband internet service on train lines into London, which it will test in March with a service on the Brighton to London route that will be free initially.

The company has invested in a new signal transmission technology called Wi-Max. T-Mobile claims this provides more consistent coverage on trains than other wireless connections, such as 3G signals and short-range Wi-Fi.

T-Mobile has placed Wi-Max base stations, which have a signal radius of 30 miles, along the tracks used by Southern Trains' London-to-Brighton express, which has a journey time of 55 minutes.

Nigel Wallbridge, chief executive of Nomad Digital, which installed the base stations, said: "Whether the train travels through tunnels, under bridges or is surrounded by high hedgerows, customers should not experience a drop in service."

The service will be available to anyone with a wireless-capable laptop in designated carriages. T-Mobile plans to begin charging for the service in the summer.

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