Heathrow Express
2007
Heathrow Express required a reliable high-speed, high-bandwidth Internet link with its trains to further enhance the travelling experience of the 15,000 passengers that use the service from Paddington to London Heathrow daily. The challenge was to ensure that, on a time-sensitive journey of 15 minutes, passengers would have the opportunity to access the Internet reliably and quickly to check business and personal email, or for information and entertainment, even in the 6km tunnel section of the route.
Nomad Digital partnered T-Mobile to build a wireless mobile network linking with T-Mobile’s Wi-Fi HotSpot service and providing a typical broadband connection speed of 2Mbps throughout the entire journey. In an industry first, Nomad also provided high-speed broadband connectivity in the 6 km tunnel using WiMAX. Carriage-mounted ‘shark-fin’ aerials have created the necessary high-speed radio transmission links, whilst electronics are mounted in custom-built storage units along the tunnel.
The result has ensured that Heathrow Express has maintained its reputation for delivering outstanding customer service, proactively catering to the demands of the modern traveller, whether on business or leisure. The high-speed connectivity service is provided on a journey, which (although short) is critical to the passenger in communicating either prior to, or immediately on return from overseas air travel at the busiest international airport in the world.
