A new survey of industry professionals has highlighted the pivotal role of onboard Internet connectivity in the development of the rail sector.

Gothenburg, Sweden, Sept. 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - The comprehensive On-Train Internet Connectivity Survey collected responses from 343 rail industry professionals working across a wide range of roles in Europe and North America. It was commissioned by Icomera, the mobile Internet connectivity solution provider for public transportation and subsidiary of Equans, a world leader in the energy and services sector.

Key Findings:

• Importance of Connectivity: 89% of rail professionals believe on-train Internet connectivity is either ‘Very Important' (49.6%) or ‘Important' (39.7%) for the industry's future.
• Satisfaction Levels: 72% of respondents are ‘satisfied' or ‘very satisfied' with the current Internet connectivity on trains when considering both passenger and operational applications (the latter typically requiring less bandwidth than the former).
• Investment Needs: 87% advocate for increased investment in onboard Internet connectivity to keep pace with increasing data demands to meet future passenger and operational needs.

The Expanding Role of On-Train Connectivity

Passenger Wi-Fi has historically been the primary application for ‘Internet on board', but those working across the industry take a broader view. Respondents identified benefits for the passenger experience (64%), operational efficiency (60%), and safety and security (40%).

Paul Barnes, Chief Marketing Officer at Icomera: “We see a growing proportion of the Internet connectivity we deliver to trains being used by IoT applications for remote monitoring and data analytics, improving safety and operational efficiency. Combined with the passenger services we support, we are ensuring confidence from origin to destination, making every journey more time-efficient for passengers, and more cost-effective for rail operators”.  

Technological Enhancements

The quality of on-train Internet depends on the coverage and capacity of communication networks along the route. Industry professionals highlighted cellular networks (62%), satellite constellations (56%), and private trackside networks (29%) as key technologies for enhancing connectivity.

Currently, on-train Internet is primarily delivered through cellular networks due to their widespread deployment and continual evolution, such as the 5G rollout. The strong interest in satellite Internet, especially LEO satellites, suggests an awareness of their potential to offer high-speed connectivity, particularly along routes that traditional cellular networks may not cover effectively. 

By taking a hybrid approach, combining various connectivity technologies, transport operators will be best placed to gain maximum value well into the future.  

Looking to the Future

The survey results paint a clear picture: On-train Internet connectivity is seen as a pivotal element for the evolution of the rail industry by the people who will be responsible for overseeing it. 

Catherine Chardon, CEO of Icomera: “The rail industry faces numerous challenges, from adapting to post-pandemic behaviours and addressing climate change, to integrating digital advancements. Onboard Internet connectivity is a strategic investment that will help the industry navigate many of these challenges simultaneously, ensuring sustainable growth and improved services for passengers and operators”.

This year, Icomera is celebrating its 25th anniversary and the transformation from the early days of onboard Wi-Fi to today's multifaceted connectivity landscape. The survey results feature in a brand-new 48-page ‘Connectivity Insights' report marking this milestone, exploring the expanding role of connectivity in supporting the industry's goals, and the adoption of new technologies and innovations. View the report (UK English / US English).

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About Icomera

Icomera is the world's leading provider of integrated connectivity solutions for trains, trams, buses and coaches, serving millions of passengers and tens of thousands of onboard systems on a daily basis. We deliver the fastest, most reliable and secure Internet connection available to a moving vehicle, supporting a wide range of digital applications which increase passenger satisfaction, enhance operational efficiency, and improve safety and security. Our solutions make transport more attractive for passengers and part of a smarter, safer, greener future for everyone, accelerating the transition towards a carbon-neutral world.

A wholly owned subsidiary of Equans, Icomera is headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden, with main offices in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the United States, and Canada.

Find out more at icomera.com

About Equans and Equans France

Rooted in a history that goes back more than a century, Equans, subsidiary of the Bouygues group, is the new global leader in the energy and services industry. In France, particularly through Ineo, Axima and Bouygues Energies & Services, it has a high territorial density synonymous with proximity. Its 35,000 employees in France support their customers in improving and optimizing their equipment, systems and technical processes so as to meet the challenges of a triple transition, energy, industrial and digital. Equans provides a high level of expertise and technology with the ambition of making a significant contribution to a low carbon and resilient world. Electrical engineering, HVAC, refrigeration, fire safety, Facility Management, IT and telecommunications, digital solutions: Equans' complementary expertise is deployed in France through a unique combination of multi-technical skills for design, construction and installation projects as well as for operation and maintenance services.

Operating in 20 countries, with 90,000 employees working on 5 continents and an annual turnover of €18.8 billion in 2023, the Equans Group connects, powers and protects energy and data to territories, cities, buildings, factories and infrastructures. Following a similar dynamic, its subsidiary Equans France achieved a turnover of 7.1 billion euros in 2023 and operates in nearly 30 different countries. Equans is a Bouygues group company.

www.equans.fr | www.equans.com

Contact:
Tom Bates
Icomera
tom.bates@icomera.com