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NOV 2003
Nomad Digital Rail ("NDR") has now completed testing of their train-borne internet access system on over 1,000km of train routes on the UK Rail Network at train speeds up to 125mph. The system provides mobile Wireless ("WiFi") Internet access to train passengers during their rail journeys.
Trials have been carried out on tracks in both England and Scotland covering over 1,000km of routes with a number of trials covering many times the route length as the test vehicle passed backward and forward along a particular route. The information gathered from these trials has helped refine the hardware and software solutions used to provide high-speed internet access throughout the train.
The latest trials involved testing on the route between Edinburgh and London Kings-Cross. During one journey, over 18GigaBytes (18,000,000 kilo Bytes) of data was transferred to/from the train during various tests. With data rates of this kind it is entirely possible that rail passengers will soon experience internet access which is faster than that available from current broadband connections to the home (ie. ADSL). Rail companies can also look at new operational and customer entertainment applications such as on-board TV, remote surveillance of carriages, and continuous condition monitoring of vehicles.
All these applications support the development of an emerging technology known as 802.16e, which defines the requirements of broadband data communication to moving vehicles. The applications that are emerging in the rail industry are likely to be followed soon by parallel developments in road vehicles.
Commenting on the progress with testing the system, Dr Nigel Wallbridge, Executive Chairman of Newcastle based NDR, commented: "Virtually every major rail franchise in the UK has expressed interest in providing these kinds of services to their customers. Market research has shown that the customers really want this. Different Train Operating Companies want to provide different kinds of services to their customers and some are much further ahead than others."
Nomad are continuing with trials on a number of UK rail routes and have now had a number of enquiries about deploying their system in overseas markets.
"Unlike some of our competitors, we already have commercial WiFi deployments in fixed locations such as hotels and shops and have also enabled commercial roaming deals. We can therefore demonstrate to Train Operating Companies the commercial integration of train-borne WiFi with deployments at fixed locations in and around stations", added Wallbridge.
How does the NDR system work?
The NDR railway based WiFi (see notes) system works by flooding rail carriages with a wireless signal that allows passengers to connect to the Internet via a control unit located on the train. Passengers can use any laptop or PDA fitted with a standard WiFi adapter (most new laptops are WiFi enabled and older laptops can be made so by the addition of an adapter available from most computer shops for under £50).
Key to the operation of the system is the communications engine developed for Nomad Digital by UK company, Brand Communications. The system automatically manages data devices and aggregates bandwidth from whatever is available to it along a given route. The system can be sending data down all the mobile operator networks, switched and packet at the same time and will automatically bring on-line high speed Microwave, PWLAN or Satellite as they come into range. The system continually monitors the performance and integrity of each data pipe to ensure that optimal use is made of it. The system can provide seamless roaming across all the bearers or aggregate them as required to achieve a high-speed service , ensuring continuity of connection without the end user having to re-start their Internet session.
If the signal is lost, for instance during travel through a tunnel, the control unit will recover the internet connection when the train has regained a signal, buffering data so that users do not have to re-connect to the internet.
Nomad Digital's solution also includes a web optimiser engine again developed by its partner company Brand Communications that ensures that heavy graphics are optimised for un-wired connections, reducing the size of web site downloads and so enhancing the user experience.
Benefits of the system
For the passenger
The benefit for the passenger is a reliable and seamless connection to the Internet throughout a train journey. He or she will be able to browse the internet, send and receive e-mails or connect to a corporate data service from their seat on the train, without the need for additional plugs, wires, adapters, software, hardware or mobile phones.
For the train operator
The system will allow train operators to enhance their services to customers. In addition to allowing operators to offer Internet access to passengers, the system can be used to create a networked environment within the train. The train operator can therefore provide facilities such as an entertainment services, including audio streaming, multiplayer games and journey progress maps. The operator will also be able to improve train management through such facilities as a train-borne intranet for management information, an internal e-mail system, stock control systems, web-cam surveillance or data logging services.
Market size
Projections suggest that the UK market for both WiFi users and rail journeys will grow significantly over the next few years. Over 20 million people in Europe, including 3.8 million in the UK, are expected to be using WiFi services by 2006 (source: Analysis Consulting). Rail passengers currently make around one billion rail journeys per year in the UK; this number is forecast to rise by 50% over the next 10 years (source: Association of Train Operating Companies).
Cost
The NDR system is very cost effective to both train operators and passengers. Installation costs of the system on trains will vary depending on specification and some investment will be required on trackside repeaters to improve network response. There is likely to be a range of options for passengers to pay for the service including corporate accounts, pre-paid cards and inclusion in ticket prices.
Timetable
Tests have been conducted on train routes operated by a number of Train Operating Companies (TOC's). Pre-launch trials are now under way with a UK Train Operating Company.
Nomad Digital
Nomad Digital is focussed on the provision of wireless connectivity services and was one of the first companies in the UK to offer WiFi services such as hot-spot deployment and WiFi roaming services. For more information relating to Nomad Digital and its services, please visit www.uknomad.com Intel® CentrinoTM mobile technology and Nomad Digital wireless LAN service are making wireless mobility a reality.
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Notes on WiFi
WiFi, short for Wireless Fidelity, is
the popular name for technologies that allow connection to the Internet without
the use of wires. Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) allow enabled devices
(such as laptop computers) to connect to data networks without requiring a
physical connection such as a modem cable. Public areas such as hotels,
airports or railway stations equipped with WLANs allow users to connect to data
networks such as the internet without the need for additional cables or
adapters. Locations equipped with WLAN access points provide a localised
"hot-spot" of connectivity within a few hundred meters of the WLAN access
point. Over two thirds of laptops are projected to be WLAN enabled by
2006.