Brightline to Utilise Racing-Inspired Technology to Improve On-Train WiFi

Brightline Florida has signed McLaren Applied to help improve the reliability of the US train operator’s passenger WiFi service.

The agreement will see the UK-based company supply its Fleet Connect software, which it developed in the fiercely competitive world of Formula One racing. McLaren Applied says its 5G Edge Active Antenna and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite connections will enable travellers to maintain consistent high-speed internet connections, even in rural areas or during fast movement.

Brightline was the first train company to utilise LEO satellite connectivity at scale. Its trains run between Orlando, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Aventura and Miami.

Kevin McAuliffe, Chief Technology and Digital Innovation Officer at Brightline, said “Guests want fast and reliable WiFi and this unique partnership will deliver that. Elevating the guest experience is at the centre of everything we do and leveraging technology partnerships like McLaren Applied puts our guests in the driver’s seat when it comes to internet connectivity.”

The Mclaren technology was originally designed to ensure constant data transmission from Formula One cars travelling at over 200 mph around complicated race circuits where signal drop-outs on bends were frequent. It has since been adapted for use on trains to help overcome connection failures due to changing signal zones and physical obstructions. The software works by simultaneously connecting to multiple networks and choosing the strongest signal to avoid interruptions. In Brightline’s case, the system will use Starlink satellites alongside existing 5G networks.

The supplier reports that its 5G Edge Active Antenna also integrates the electronics directly into the antenna unit – obviating the need for routers and RF cables on the train. “These innovations were designed with the racing mindset: be ultra-reliable, lightweight, and resilient to high speeds and vibrations—attributes that seamlessly translate to rail applications.” said Pablo Garcia, Director of Connected Intelligence at McLaren Applied. 

Starlink and other LEO satellite-based connectivity solutions have recently become important weapons in the battle to improve on-train WiFi services, as they appear to offer a way to bridge coverage gaps without requiring heavy investment in trackside equipment. In November 2024, Icomera signed an authorised reseller agreement with SpaceX’s Starlink to provide Starlink’s high-speed, low-latency satellite connectivity specifically to trains.

In the UK ScotRail has recently successfully tested satellite-delivered broadband to trains in the north of Scotland. Elon Musk’s company currently boasts a constellation of several thousand satellites orbiting Earth at approximately 550km which it says can deliver connection speeds of up to 220Mbps and latency of around ~40 ms.

However, it remains to be seen if improving terrestrial mobile coverage will negate the need for additional satellite connections on more popular routes. For example, in late 2024, the four national mobile network operators in Germany agreed a deal with Deutsche Bahn and the government to install a 5G network along 278km of rail tracks between Hamburg and Berlin. In addition, Telekom Deutschland says it is upgrading 1,900 sites and constructing 470 new masts across Germany’s railway lines, while Vodafone reports that it is building a 5G stand-alone network along Germany’s Intercity-Express lines – due to be finished by the end of this year.

The discussions over how much satellite delivery can replace land-based connectivity will be one of the main features of this year’s Traincomms Conference in London (www.Traincomms.com ).

Traincomms 2025 is sponsored by Huber+Suhner, Westermo, Antonics, Galgus, Icomera and Nomad Digital.

Xentrans, CGI, and Lantech are the Expo Sponsors

For more information on attending the 2025 Conference please contact [email protected]