Unveiling the true Gigabit Train
Gigabit track-to-train connectivity has been touted as essential to transform how we experience rail travel. However, to date, the so-called ‘Gigabit Train’ has been little more than just a concept.
The Blu Wireless mmWave technology for rail has now been proven in practice to deliver gigabit connectivity, bringing the Gigabit Train concept to life across two key commuter lines: In the USA on Caltrain, Silicon Valley & SWR, London, UK.
Already rolled out in Silicon Valley, the Blu Wireless track-to-train multi-gigabit, rail-qualified mmWave solution for train connectivity delivers astounding connectivity speeds of up to 3Gbps at up to 300km/h. That’s faster than most home Wi-Fi!
And recently we announced a new strategic partnership with Westermo, who understand the power of Blu Wireless’ solution. LightningBlu requires zero configuration time if implemented as part of the Westermo suite of products, adding to the overall Westermo Internet on board solution.
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LightningBlu
Connectivity at 300+ kmph
The UK Government estimates that over 2 Gbps per train is required to support a commuter train with a typical passenger capacity of 1,000 people, a recent paper reports . Therefore, providing Gigabit track-to-train connectivity is essential to transform how we experience rail travel. Only mmWave wireless spectrum has the necessary high bandwidth – using the 57 – 71 GHz unlicensed band – to efficiently deliver this service.
Gigabit communications requires gigahertz of spectrum and this is the largest contiguous block of spectrum freely available in UK, EU and USA. Wireless solutions which can exploit this wireless spectrum, such as the LightningBlu solution from Blu Wireless, are providing the unique ability to deliver Gigabit connectivity for the connected commuter.
As our professional and personal lives become more connected, there is a clear demand for quality connectivity and experience for passengers opting for train travel. Causes of intermittent internet access, due to tunnels, channel interference, reflective surfaces and high speeds are all mitigated by LightningBlu – a resilient, high performing and quick to deploy, complete solution.
Coming up in 2025: A cost-effective and low-power solution for rail
Building on the success of the track-to-train solution, Blu Wireless is developing a high-gain trackside backhaul solution that will eliminate the need for costly fibre connections to each lineside node, reducing CAPEX cost by at least 80%.
Due for launch in 2025, the equipment is 300x more power efficient (W/bps) as compared to current 4G/5G mobile equipment used for rail applications. Ultra-low energy requirements mean each node can be powered by a local solar panel and battery, further reducing deployment costs and energy requirements.