Boosts Arctic Connectivity in Groundbreaking Trial

Arctic Circle Starlink Trial Boosts Connectivity Frontiers. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Icomera partnered with Sweden’s KTH to test Starlink in the Arctic Circle. This trial explored satellite and cellular connectivity performance across challenging northern terrains.

Don’t miss…Eurostar Bomb Disruption Halts London-Paris Trains

Northern Scandinavia’s vast, sparsely populated areas create significant hurdles for reliable Internet access, particularly on public transport. Traditional cellular networks offer limited capacity here, so upgrading them demands substantial investment.

Mobile network operators hesitate to fund costly upgrades in low-density regions like Sweden and Canada. Consequently, patchy connectivity plagues northern latitudes, but satellite solutions offer a promising alternative.

The satellite constellation grows quickly, and it increasingly delivers high-speed Internet to underserved northern areas. Although less dense over Arctic latitudes, its capacity continues to improve, enhancing connectivity options.

A research team traveled 970 kilometers across Northern Sweden, and they evaluated satellite performance thoroughly. Using an Icomera X5 router and a 5G setup, they measured connectivity in diverse conditions.

The test route spanned urban centers and remote wilderness, so it provided comprehensive performance data. Over 50,000 satellite observations and 23,000 cellular ones revealed key insights into both technologies.

Starlink Outperforms in Speed and Innovation

Results showed satellite median throughput soared nearly ten times higher than cellular networks’ speeds. This advantage suits bandwidth-heavy tasks like video surveillance and passenger Wi-Fi, yet consistency varied.

Satellites excelled overall in the Arctic Circle, but they faced more frequent signal drops than cellular. Combining both networks ensured stable access, so video streaming worked for 99% of the trip.

Aggregating satellite with cellular connectivity significantly enhances network performance for trains, and interruptions decrease noticeably. This approach increases availability, so onboard devices function smoothly across remote routes.

Previously, northern countries like Sweden explored fibre and cellular expansions, yet costs reached billions. Now, satellite tech offers a cost-effective alternative, and Icomera integrates it seamlessly into transport systems.

As an authorized reseller, Icomera drives satellite-based connectivity for trains, and this study proves its value. Combining networks boosts access, so rural routes no longer lag behind urban ones.

Transport operators adopt multi-layered connectivity approaches, and they ensure high-speed Internet reaches isolated areas. This flexibility eliminates delays, so passengers enjoy consistent service regardless of location.

Starlink Shapes the Future of Mobility

Icomera has tested satellite solutions since 2002, and its expertise shapes public transport’s future daily. Recent trials deliver urban-level 5G speeds, so rural trains achieve over 200 Mbps consistently.

Some tests recorded latency below 40 milliseconds, and this performance rivals city standards easily. As Icomera marks 25 years, its dedication to connectivity breakthroughs grows stronger than ever.

This Arctic trial underscores ongoing efforts to innovate, and it brings advanced technology to challenging regions. Hybrid connectivity paves the way, so passengers and businesses stay linked everywhere effortlessly.

Source, photo: railway-usa.com

News on railway transport, industry, and railway technologies from Railway Supply that you might have missed:

Find the latest news of the railway industry in Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and the rest of the world on our page on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, read Railway Supply magazine online.

Place your ads on webportal and in Railway Supply magazine. Detailed information is in Railway Supply media kit