The UK is leading Europe in the race to get broadband wireless services onto trains, according to a new report from the consulting firm BWCS.
The number of Wi-Fi-equipped train carriages in Britain has reached 2,000, beating closest rivals Germany (911) and Italy (995).
“Competition is the major factor driving train operators to make this investment,” said Graham Wilde, CEO of BWCS.
“The UK has benefited hugely from the franchise system which saw private, entrepreneurial companies take to the rails ahead of the rest of Europe. Now, as competition spreads slowly across the EU, companies are scrambling to install Wi-Fi onto trains.”
BWCS forecasts that the market for on-train wireless broadband services in Europe will grow from €47 million per year in 2011 to €80 million by 2021.
