The SNCF has a problem. If the delay in its trains is often pointed out, the quality of its WiFi connection inside the oars is just as important. But the French Railway Society does not intend to stay in crosses.
It wants to provide a decent internet connection to its users. Today the situation is far from optimal. The wifi connection offered in trains happens to us thanks to 18,000 relay points, Placed along the rails by telecom operators.
Despite everything, the white areas are still numerous in the territory. Even when you are on a well -covered area, Internet connection is low, not to say very bad. Streaming, videoconference and other resource -gourmet applications are simply not usable.
Satellites as a solution?
To put an end to the problem once and for all, the SNCF would be about to launch a tender. According to our colleagues from the echoes, the company would ask interested companies to offer an “innovative solution” coupling 4G and 5G antennas already used by the SNCF to a constellation of satellites in orbit.
Faced with such a request, two companies seem to be in a positon pole to compete for the contract. On the one hand, the French Eutelsat, who uses the constellation of Oneweb satellites, could make an interesting proposal. The biggest argument of the company remaining its origin and the promise of technological sovereignty.
On the other hand, how not to talk about it? The Starlink scarecrow should be there. Elon Musk’s company will obviously be on the file. On the side of the SNCF, we want in any case to go fast. A demonstration in the field should take place in 2026 (for TGVs only), before a circulation of this new solution in 2027-2028.
SNCF at full speed
Before the end of the decade, TER and intercités should also benefit from this WiFi 2.0 on board. The question will then be whether this service will be “offered” to users (its cost would be absorbed by the price of the ticket) or if the passengers will have to pay a supplement to benefit from wifi during their trip.
To understand why it is so difficult to offer a decent connection to its users, we had surveyed on the subject of the Internet connection in trains. The answer is in two words: “Technical prowess. You can find our investigation here.
📍 To not miss any Citron press, follow us on Google News and Whatsapp.
By: opera
