Nomad Digital, a global leader in the provision of transport-based data communications, has won a prestigious international award for its work in supplying the Dubai Metro with high-speed WiFi internet.

The company, based in Newcastle, UK, won the Railway Interiors Expo Award for Passenger Service Innovation of the Year at a recent ceremony in Cologne, Germany.

The awards are judged by up to 30 internationally renowned independent industry journalists, passenger representative groups and consultants and are designed to recognise and reward the increasing sophistication of railcar interior design, equipment, technology and furnishings.

In Dubai, Nomad's system provides seamless broadband connectivity to all trains and stations on the automated light-rail network, giving passengers internet access. Trains run along a corridor of wireless coverage linked to trackside wireless base stations, with WiMAX radios located at frequent intervals along the route. Nomad Digital's advanced mobile WiFi system can be fully-integrated with a variety of applications, including real-time security CCTV, entertainment downloaded by passengers, and automated driver performance systems.

In full operation, Dubai metro is projected to carry approximately 1.2 million passengers on an average day, and 355 million passengers a year on 318km of metro lines.

Nomad's Commercial Director Jay Saw, who collected the award, said: "I was honoured and delighted to receive this award. It is a recognition of Nomad Digital's achievement in meeting the highest quality of standards for the Dubai Metro WiMax system. This award has reinforced our position as global leader in transportation mobile services."