Russian Railways is intensifying its efforts to increase wireless access speeds in trains. A key solution will be a combination of LTE networks, Radio Ethernet technology, and low-orbit satellites. A hybrid approach has already been tested on the Moscow-St. Petersburg section, achieving speeds of 600 Mbps on the train.
Radio Ethernet is a wireless system that transmits signals between base stations along the tracks and receivers in the carriages. In conjunction with LTE, this allows for the elimination of "dead zones" and stabilization of the connection. However, for high-speed lines, such as the HSR Moscow-St. Petersburg, the target is 1 Gbps. Satellites will come to the rescue here: Russian Railways is already testing equipment in laboratories, and mass implementation is planned after 2026, when Russia deploys its own low-orbit constellation of 270 devices.
The company noted that the current capabilities of mobile operators are limited due to their commercial focus—companies develop networks in densely populated areas, ignoring low-profit areas. It is crucial to combine the efforts of operators, the state, and developers of satellite solutions.
Stable access to the network at speeds up to 1 Gbps will radically change the quality of travel: from streaming HD video to remote work. For Russian Railways, this is also a step towards "smart" railways—integrating IoT sensors into the infrastructure and improving safety.
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