The Wi-Fi arrive in the TGV – The World

long Awaited, this service should be accessible to 80 % of the passengers of the TGV by the end of 2017. Nineteen trains of the Paris-Lyon line will offer as early as December 15, 2016.

World | 13.12.2016 to 12: 30 pm • updated 13.12.2016 at 12h37 | By Vincent Fagot

from December 15, 19 trains TGV will offer a free Internet on the Paris-Lyon line. The service should be progressively extended to the other lines with a goal of 80 % of the travellers receiving this benefit by the end of 2017. For Guillaume Pepy, boss of SNCF, ” the Internet edge is the first user request “.

The investment of the company amounts to 100 million euros. 300 trains in total will be equipped with fiber optic and antenna to be able to get the network operators on the high-speed train lines. A technical service made possible by a collaboration with the operator Orange, in order to meet ” the technical challenges important to provide an Internet connection to 300 km/h) “. The adopted solution allows to capture the 3G/4G network and then convert it to Wi-Fi signal in the train.

Program extent of coverage 3G and 4G

The promise is not new. In 2014, the secretary of State in charge of the digital Axelle Lemaire had even reproached on Twitter SNCF : ” Toc Toc, SNCF : it can be to discuss wifi on the train ? “”APPOINTMENT is made” he had then been answered.

In February 2015, the SNCF unveiled the plan #DigitalSNCF, with 450 million euros, devoted in particular to ensure a better connection within the trains. Yves Tyrode, newly appointed director of digital and communication of SNCF, announced the choice of a technological shift, with the use of 4G on board of the train, preferred to a solution satellite initially preferred, and adopted for the Thalys and the TGV-East.

In the same motion, the SNCF launched a program to measure the coverage of 3G and 4G on the rail network to identify, with the operators, in underserved areas. For the only route Paris-Lyon, Orange had ” install 103 additional antennas to ensure a bandwidth continuous “.

The SNCF said that with this new device, up to 1,000 people will be able to connect simultaneously. But the question for many to imagine that all the passengers can look at the same time their films or series in streaming too bandwidth-consuming.

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