December 18th 2014 – High-speed rail operator Thalys has selected mobile Internet connectivity experts Icomera to operate its Wi-Fi service. Icomera will install its system across the 26 8-car Thalys train sets, with the first upgraded train going into service in the last quarter of 2015. The rest of the fleet will be upgraded at the end the year and operational in 2016.
Thalys has a long-standing reputation for innovation, first introducing onboard Wi-Fi in 2008 and mobile ticketing in 2011. The new upgrade is a response to both the popularity of the existing Wi-Fi service and the growing demand for faster, more readily-available public Internet connectivity; passengers are eager to make their train journeys a continuation of their productive and sociable lives and to reduce “dead time”.
Utilising patented SureWAN technology, the Icomera solution has a strong track record for delivering a quality on-board passenger Wi-Fi experience, even during journeys at 300km/h. Having invested in Icomera’s open application and connectivity platform, Thalys has laid the foundations for further service enhancements and future-proofed their fleet.
“Our primary goal is always to meet our passengers’ needs,” said Agnès Ogier, CEO of Thalys. “We were the first international high-speed train operator to be awarded an NF certification for the quality of our service; high-level care is our top priority, and faster, more reliable Wi-Fi is a proven contributing factor.”
Karl-Johan Holm, President and CEO of Icomera, added, “We are very pleased that, through a rigorous procurement process, Thalys has chosen us to provide its next-generation Wi-Fi. Our technology will maintain the high quality passenger experience that Thalys is committed to and known for. Our solution can be expanded to integrate additional services over time as required, supporting Thalys as it continues to set an industry-leading standard.”
About Thalys
Thalys is a high speed rail operator, running 470 journeys per week in four different countries (Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands) and transporting around six million passengers every year. Founded in 1996, Thalys has maintained a strong focus on passenger comfort and service innovation.
