US Train Operator Plucks Starlink out of the Sky for WiFi on Board Services

Wednesday 10 May 2023

New Florida intercity train company, Brightline, is to use satellite delivered broadband to connect its entire fleet. The company, which runs services up and down the Sunshine State, will join unlikely bed-fellows Ukraine Railways and Lithuanian Railways in signing up to use SpaceX’s Starlink satellite service to supply WiFi on board.

Brightline has confirmed that Starlink’s internet connectivity is currently available on its fleet of five trains running between Miami and West Palm Beach. It also says the service will be added to the new five-train fleet that run routes from Orlando to West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Aventura and Miami.

Last month, Lithuanian Railways (LTG) became the latest train company to announce it may use satellite as a means of supplying broadband to trains. The national rail operator says it plans to test Internet provided by Starlink on its trains. The satellite company also has a contract to provide internet to Ukrainian Railways.

Starlink says it can deliver high-speed, low-latency Internet connections to users all over the world. This is made possible via its constellation of over 4,000 satellites operating in a low orbit of only 550km above the Earth, compared to 35,786km for geostationary satellites. This enables Starlink to offer lower latency than traditional satellites — around 25ms vs 600+ms. It also says it can provide a seamless connection even in the most rural areas and all along most train tracks.

Recently CGI, started work with the UK’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, the UK Space Agency, the European Space Agency (ESA) and Icomera to demonstrate a hybrid satellite and terrestrial communications network for use on trains in remote parts of Britain’s rail network.

The UK and Lithuanian satellite projects will be one of many train-to-shore connectivity services discussed at this year’s WiFi on Trains Conference – Traincomms 2023 (www.Traincomms.com )

This year’s Traincomms 2023 Conference will take place on the 14^th and 15^th of November at the Royal Horseguards Hotel in central London www.Traincomms.com.

A very limited number of early booking discount tickets are still available.

There is more information at www.Traincomms.com where you can also sign up for our Free News Service … or e-mail [email protected]

The 2023 Conference is sponsored by Huber+Suhner, Westermo, Boldyn Networks, Nomad Digital, GlobalReach Technology, Icomera, Xentrans, Antonics and Polomarconi.

The Full Programme for the 2023 Conference is available NOW via the website.

NetSkrts Teams up with BAI in Battle to Improve On-Train Connectivity… http://www.traincomms.com/news_detail.cfm?item=21305

Cuban Train Passengers: “Havana Get Connected”… http://www.traincomms.com/news_detail.cfm?item=21301

RENFE Signs Headline Deal for Online Passengers… http://traincomms.com/news_detail.cfm?item=21211

Huge UK Trackside Telecoms Deal Edges Closer… http://www.traincomms.com/news_detail.cfm?item=21210

Transport for Wales Launches New On-Train WiFi Portal… http://www.traincomms.com/news_detail.cfm?item=21209

PaxLife and onway Combine to Win Northern Italian On-Train Systems Tender… http://www.traincomms.com/news_detail.cfm?item=21206

Cellnex Signs First Customer for Enhanced Trackside Network … http://traincomms.com/news_detail.cfm?item=20206

Nomad Digital Awarded Contracts to Provide Broadband Communication Services for New Caltrain Fleet… http://traincomms.com/news_detail.cfm?item=20202

Indian Consortium in Massive Project to Monetise Passenger WiFi … http://traincomms.com/news_detail.cfm?item=20201

Romanian Trains in WiFi Trial… http://traincomms.com/news_detail.cfm?item=20200

US Midwest to get WiFi on Trains … http://traincomms.com/news_detail.cfm?item=20146

New York Signs US$600 Million Deal to Put Mobile in Subway Tunnels … http://traincomms.com/news_detail.cfm?item=20145

LNER Trialing On-Board Edgecasting TV Service to Free up WiFi … http://traincomms.com/news_detail.cfm?item=20144

RailTel Adds Content to Telecoms Service Portfolio … http://traincomms.com/news_detail.cfm?item=20143

All Aboard with BAI to Bring Connectivity to the London Tube … http://traincomms.com/news_detail.cfm?item=20142

SpaceX Gets Green Light to Target WiFi on Trains … http://traincomms.com/news_detail.cfm?item=20141

Using Fast and Reliable WiFi to Persuade Passengers onto Trains … http://traincomms.com/news_detail.cfm?item=20140

Huge Trackside Network Deal Edges Closer… http://traincomms.com/news_detail.cfm?item=20137

Pakistan Railways Relaunches Push for Train WiFi … http://www.traincomms.com/news_detail.cfm?item=20136

Paris Metro Moves Closer to Fully 5G Future … http://www.traincomms.com/news_detail.cfm?item=20133

WiFi to the Rescue … http://www.traincomms.com/news_detail.cfm?item=20130

SpaceX Lands Planes Deal - Lines up Trains http://www.traincomms.com/news_detail.cfm?item=20129

Vodafone Joins Deutsche Bahn in Fight to Cover German Rail Network http://www.traincomms.com/news_detail.cfm?item=20128

Station WiFi Spreading – as Waterloo Joins the Pack http://traincomms.com/news_detail.cfm?item=20123

Passengera to Supply WiFi to Riders on the Riyadh Metro http://traincomms.com/news_detail.cfm?item=20122

Mumbai Trains Start Free On-Board Infotainment Services http://traincomms.com/news_detail.cfm?item=20118

Satellite – No Longer Pie in the Sky for On-Train WiFi? http://www.traincomms.com/news_detail.cfm?item=20117

Through the Looking Glass – Swiss Company Cuts the Need for On-Train Repeaters?  http://www.traincomms.com/news_detail.cfm?item=20116

Budget Boost for Deutsche Bahn as Head Vows WiFi Improvement http://www.traincomms.com/news_detail.cfm?item=20115

Major Data Centre Deal Signed to Support Tube Connectivity Roll Out  http://www.traincomms.com/news_detail.cfm?item=20114   

New Canadian Trains Get Ten-Year WiFi Deal with Icomera http://www.traincomms.com/news_detail.cfm?item=20098

Major RFP Issued for On-board Content on Over 2,000 Trains http://www.traincomms.com/news_detail.cfm?item=20097

Impressive Investment in Polish Trains will see WiFi Everywhere http://www.traincomms.com/news_detail.cfm?item=20096

Huge Passenger Survey Underlines Importance of On-Board Connectivity http://www.traincomms.com/news_detail.cfm?item=20064

 

 

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