Internet technology firm that's on the right track
Mar 18 2010 by Karen Dent, The Journal
The online revolution has created a generation of internet users who demand high-quality access to the web wherever they are, and a North East company is leading the way on the world's railways.
The system will be used by 25 trains travelling in and around the Norwegian capital Oslo for journeys up to 90 minutes and the rest will be used on longer trips in the south of the country.
NSB project manager Kjell-Arthur Abrahamsen said: “NSB had evaluated a wide range of suppliers in the market before we concluded that the Nomad was the best over all.
“In particular, we emphasise Nomad’s expertise to deliver forward-looking solutions based on standardised components.”
The Norwegian deal comes shortly after another bespoke Nomad system went into operation in the US on Amtrak’s Acela Express route running between Washington DC and Boston via Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York.
Mr Lowdon said: “It is a huge deal for us. The Amtrak Acela is the only high-speed train service in the States and we are the WiFi provider here. We’re hoping this will open up the door to Amtrak for us.”
Unlike the Norwegian system, where the challenge was to ensure there were no empty spaces and disconnections between different mobile phone networks, Nomad had to create something completely different for very demanding US passengers on trains that reach speeds of 150 miles an hour. The route has been known to carry passengers such as US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, who was on one of the trains when the system was being trialled.
Nomad used an innovation called aggregation, which works across all eight US mobile phone networks, to beef up the on-board broadband.
Mr Kyle said: “In the UK, if you had Orange and Vodafone, the system would chose the best of the two channels and, as the train moves, it would switch.
“With aggregation, we can combine all available networks at the same point in time. It increases the bandwidth available.”
Nomad already provides WiFi on the UTA Frontrunner trains in Salt Lake City, and is providing its platform for the Amtrak Cascades service, which runs out of Seattle in Washington State.
Getting its foot in the door with Amtrak means the company is in an ideal position to expand further into the lucrative US market.
Nomad, which employs around 50 people in the UK, with 35 based in Newcastle, and has an annual turnover of more than £5m, has a number of other firsts to its name.
It was the first company in the UK to trial WiFi on board trains and to roll-out a track-side network specifically for data services to moving trains, and also was the first to stream live video to and from moving trains.
These are the first new trains where it is being built as an integral part of the train. It is a good trend for us, it is increasing demand and will be a growth area
