Nomad Digital lands Eurostar WiFi contract
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-ChiefNomad Digital Ltd. said Wednesday Eurostar has selected the company to supply onboard WiFi connectivity and infotainment for its existing fleet of high speed trains.
During the next three years, Eurostar is making a £700 million (about $1.1 billion) investment in its fleet, including the complete overhaul and refurbishment of the existing fleet as well as the purchase of 10 new e320 trainsets from Siemens. When the Eurostar refurbished trains and the new e320 trains come into operation in 2013 and 2014, respectively, customers will have access to high speed broadband Internet on board. Passengers will also be able to view and/or download pre-loaded entertainment/infotainment to their own devices via a Secure Wireless LAN.
Nomad said passengers will enjoy a high speed connection to the internet at all times throughout their journey, a seamless switchover at international borders, and connectivity wherever the customer is seated and whenever it is required.
Nomad’s contract will also cover the provision of spares and maintenance (for five years) as well as monitoring and multilingual service support to customers.
Eurostar Commercial Director Nick Mercer said, “We are very pleased to be working with Nomad and are confident that their WiFi and infotainment solutions will significantly enhance the onboard travel experience and deliver our customers a high quality broadband service. Access to a high speed internet and quality infotainment is increasingly important to passengers and will ensure that whether they are travelling for business or leisure, they get the most out of their journey. In a world of on-rail competition providing the optimal digital experience will be key to our success.”
Nomad CEO Alexander Eriksen said, “We are delighted to have been selected for provision of the WiFi and infotainment solution for the Eurostar fleet. This contract is very strategic to Nomad representing its entry into both the high speed rail and French markets. We look forward to working with such a prestigious company as Eurostar and delivering a high quality broadband experience to its customers.”
