Wi-fi aboard all TGV Est trains by 2010
Let le wi-fi take the strain...
French train operator SNCF is to roll out onboard wi-fi across its entire TGV Est fleet by the end of 2010, following a successful trial of the technology.
SNCF said a paid-for wi-fi service for first and second class passengers will launch in autumn 2009 on a number of trains, with a full rollout on all TGV Est departures in France, Germany, Luxembourg and Switzerland by the end of 2010.
Earlier this year the operator trialled a free wi-fi service on three TGV trains, travelling at speeds of up to 320km/h, including an international service to Switzerland.
The trial service offered unrestricted access to the internet at 2Mbps download and 512Kbps upload rates, using a blend of satellite connectivity and wi-fi relays on the ground to provide internet connectivity on more than 94 per cent of the route.
SNCF said its commercial wi-fi service will be charged for but passengers will also have free access to a portal offering multimedia content such as videos and games - powered by onboard servers on each train - which was also trialled between December 2007 and May 2008.
Speaking to silicon.com earlier this year, Frank Bernard, head of European business at SNCF, suggested a commercial wi-fi service would be likely to carry a charge of between five and 10 euros per passenger per trip as he said the satellite tech underpinning it is "quite expensive".
According to SNCF some 12,000 TGV passengers logged on during the trial and the most popular services were internet access, an interactive geo-location map showing the trains current position on a map, and video.
The commercial wi-fi deployment will involve 52 trainsets - the entire TGV Est fleet - and will be delivered by the OCEA consortium of service providers: Alstom, Capgemini, Eutelsat and Orange Business Services.
SNCF added it will set up a joint subsidiary of the SNCF and industrial conglomerate Bolloré to design, develop and operate the service.
Click here to watch a video of silicon.com reporter Natasha Lomas road-testing SNCF's trial wi-fi service earlier this year on a TGV train travelling from Paris to Basel.