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Better WiFi for hundreds of trains under government plans
The plan would use low-Earth-orbit satellites to lift average download speeds five to tenfold and raise WiFi availability to more than 90%, officials said.
- The UK government will roll out satellite-connected WiFi on more than 1,400 main line trains, backed by £57m in funding following successful trials across LNER, South Western Railway and Great Western Railway.
- Persistent internet 'blackspots' on Britain's main line trains prompted the initiative, as passengers have long viewed reliable connectivity as essential and Transport Focus welcomed improvements to tackle coverage gaps.
- A government source said the upgrade would "rocket boost connectivity on every main line train in Britain over the next few years, tackling both slow speeds and irritating not-spots," with Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander expected to announce the plans this summer.
- Campaign for Better Transport called the move a "real step change," though Michael Solomon Williams stressed unreliable internet was not stopping passengers from using trains, and Rail Future emphasized "the key issues remain the cost of travel, overcrowding and reliability."
- The satellite WiFi rollout forms part of the government's wider modernization through Great British Railway, aiming to improve coverage from 50-60% to at least 90% across journeys while ministers continue addressing fares and service reliability.
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Simon Calder says Labour need to move ‘quite a lot quicker’ on providing ‘desperately needed’ train upgrade
Simon Calder has insisted Labour need to move “quite a lot quicker” to deliver the “desperately needed” rollout of wifi on the nation’s trains.Speaking to GB News, the travel expert reacted to the Government's plans to connect 1,400 trains across the UK to low-earth satellites. Aiming to replace current mobile networks, a Government source said the plan would: “rocket boost connectivity on every main line train in Britain over the next few years…
·London, United Kingdom
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Tech RadarReposted by 
technewstube.com
technewstube.comHundreds of UK trains will finally get better Wi-Fi — government promises to 'rocket boost connectivity' for travellers
The UK government is running several schemes to improve connectivity across the rail network, including satellite Wi-Fi.
·United Kingdom
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The IndependentReposted by 
The Independent (US)
The Independent (US)Labour makes fresh pledge to ‘rocket-boost’ failing train wifi
Travel expert Simon Calder offers his analysis of government pledge of ‘rocket boost’ for connectivity
·London, United Kingdom
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources10
Leaning Left2Leaning Right2Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Center
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources are Center
50% Center
L 25%
C 50%
R 25%
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