GNER takes aim at planes with wireless broadband

Train operator GNER will trial wireless broadband technology on its trains from Swedish firm Icomera for three months starting in September this year.

Following silicon.com's exclusive last week, GNER has revealed further details of the groundbreaking plans to offer passengers high-speed net access on its trains.

Icomera has been selected because its wireless data communication system is being used in the world's first commercially running Wi-Fi service on board trains in Scandinavia.

The service will be piloted on a GNER train on the London Kings Cross to Scotland service for three months and if successful the operator will next year fit satellite-receiving equipment to 10 high-speed diesel trains and then 30 electric trains.

Christopher Garnet, CEO of GNER, said in a statement that the service is part of a strategy to win back customers who have deserted the trains for cheap domestic fares from low-cost airlines.

He said: "We hope that the new service will encourage more people to take the train instead of driving or flying. Most of the journey time between domestic airports is wholly unproductive for business travellers and whilst airborne they are completely disconnected from the outside world." Passengers with Wi-Fi enabled laptops will be able to access the service and there will be no limit to the number who can use it at any one time. GNER has also already conducted successful trials on the quality of GSM reception along the full length of the London to Inverness line.