Eutelsat has completed its first rail connectivity trial in Poland, testing OneWeb low-Earth orbit service on a live PKP Intercity long-distance train running between Kozłów, Warszawa and Tczew at speeds of up to 160 km/h. The demonstration used the Kymeta Kestrel u5 terminal, which has recently received rail certification from TÜV Rheinland, and involved ACO Solutions as systems integrator with Hispasat as distribution partner.
The trial gathered performance data and examined seamless switching between satellite and terrestrial connectivity during the journey. Eutelsat’s rail package is designed to support passenger Wi-Fi, operational communications and data services by linking its OneWeb LEO connectivity with existing rail communications infrastructure.
The Polish test gives Eutelsat a live European rail reference for its mobility offering at a time when operators are looking to improve onboard connectivity and backhaul resilience. The set-up also connects rail-side systems with operations centres, allowing communications to continue across trackside and onboard networks without a separate passenger-only architecture.