Austrian rail operator Westbahn selected Nokia to implement secure, high-performance and high-bandwidth train-to-ground communications solution for its new expanded fleet of intercity trains.
Under the contract, Nokia will supply, deploy and maintain Wi-Fi access points, intelligent multi-path switching and control systems at Westbahn’s Operations Control Center (OCC). The provided solution will ensure enhanced customer experience with continuous, resilient wireless broadband connectivity for passengers and on-board operations across the latest additions to the Westbahn fleet.
“The Westbahn brand experience is based on a superior level of customer service, with continuous high-speed Wi-Fi connectivity an important part of our offering. Nokia’s train-to-ground solution delivers the necessary reliability, speed and capacity that our passengers rely on to stay connected, whether their journey is for business or leisure,” Christian Pettauer, CIO of Westbahn, said.
To deliver the level of quality of service required by the railway operator, Nokia maintains best possible on-board connectivity by using intelligent switching, a unique multi-path connectivity algorithm that routes traffic optimally via redundant network gateways. These gateways simultaneously connect to multiple local mobile operator networks and maintain high quality on-board connectivity by selecting and aggregating available bandwidth across the best performing channels. End-to-end security mechanisms ensure secure operations data exchange between the trains and the OCC.
“By providing high-speed Wi-Fi throughout its fleet, WESTbahn has successfully differentiated in the marketplace with a commitment to outstanding levels of operational performance and customer service,” said Christian Watzinger, the Head of Enterprise Sales Austria, Nokia Cloud and Network Services.
The operator is committed to provide passengers modern on-board services which include paperless ticketing, reservations and information services as well as uninterrupted connectivity.
The communication company will equip the 15 six-car double-decker Kiss trains manufactured by Stadler to enter operation on Vienna – Salzburg railway line. Westbahn Management GmbH, a subsidiary of Rail Holding AG, is an open access railway company operating express train services between Vienna and Salzburg on Austria’s Western Railway since 2011.
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