High-speed internet for high-speed trains - Train-surfing made in the SGBA
People taking a high-speed TGV train (French acronym for „Train de Grande Vitesse“) from the St.GallenBodenseeArea (SGBA) to Lyon or Paris will soon have the pleasure to surf the internet – wireless and of course and at high speeds as well.
It is the world premiere of a broadband Wi-Fi network on board of a train reaching speeds of up to 300 km/h, and it is made possible by top technology from the SGBA: The Pfäffikon, SGBA-based company HUBER + SUHNER will deliver all required passive components in broadband kits required to enjoy wireless broadband connectivity aboard the fast trains of the SNCF France’s national railway corporation („Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français“). Among the components are high-quality radio frequency cables, high-performance antennas, fiber-optic assemblies as well as databus and power cables – manufactured in the SGBA according to the highest electrical and fire standards and compliant with stringent vibration and impact resistance requirements.
After a successful test run on a pilot journey between Lyon and Paris last December, HUBER + SUHNER and ENGIE Ineo, the SNCF’s main contractor and specialist for mobile energy and telecom infrastructure solutions signed a framework agreement to equip 140 TGV train compositions with complete connectivity solutions by 2018. The contract includes an option to equip an additional 160 trains with kits that are assembled using HUBER + SUHNER’s passive components.
Patrick Riederer, Head of the Low Frequency Division at HUBER + SUHNER, underlined the significance of expanding the footprint of his company, a key player in connectivity and communication, in the French railway market.
The Swiss-French cooperation also emphasizes the SGBA’s strong international relevance and impact in Precision Technologies and ICT, particularly in the rail sector.
HUBER + SUHNER press release in English about equipping the TGV fleet: