NMBS to laser train windows for better mobile internet reception – IT Pro – News

The Belgian railway company NMBS wants to use a laser treatment to shoot microscopic holes in the protective coating of windows in trains. As a result, the signal of mobile networks must be better transmitted and the range in the trains must be further increased.

NMBS spokesman Bart Crols tells HLN.be that the windows of the NMBS trainsets contain a coating that regulates the temperature in the trains, but at the same time also blocks the signals from mobile networks. According to HLN, the windows of M6 train aircraft, which run on the busiest lines, will first be treated. This happens as soon as they have to be serviced. Then it is the turn of the windows of M7 trainsets. NMBS did not provide an exact timeline.

At the beginning of this year, the Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunications (BIPT) conducted a research looking forward to the coverage and quality of 4g mobile networks in Belgium, including on the Belgian rail network. This shows that an average download speed of 55Mbps and an average upload speed of 17Mbps can be achieved on Belgian InterCity trains. According to the BIPT, 2,200 kilometers were traveled on IC lines for the investigation. 800 call tests and 5300 data tests were performed per mobile network and each train line was tested at least twice. The average 4G download speed on Belgian territory is 80 Mbps according to BIPT. The average upload speed is 25 Mbps.

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