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Photos: How Heathrow Express does wi-fi
Including WiMax for backhaul, for those pesky tunnels...

By Gemma Simpson

Published: Tuesday 24 April 2007

All Heathrow Express trains have been wi-fi-enabled, providing broadband access to passengers for the entire journey which lasts about 15 to 20 minutes.

The wi-fi offering, provided by T-Mobile, lets passengers access the internet at speeds of up to 2Mbps en route to the world's busiest international airport. The trains connect back to the T-Mobile network using a 3.5G HSDPA cellular connection, or WiMax when in a tunnel.

To access the service, customers need to purchase a T-Mobile HotSpot card with prices starting from 75p for 10 minutes to £40 for 30 days of wi-fi access.

Customers can then use the wi-fi network for the train journey from Paddington to Heathrow, as well as at hotspot zones in the airport, the train stations and elsewhere in London.

Photo credit: Gemma Simpson