Spain¡¯s high-speed AVE trains to offer free onboard Wi-Fi internet access
Operator Renfe awards contract to Telef¨®nica, which hopes to start service by end of 2015
Spanish rail operator Renfe is planning to offer passengers free wireless internet access aboard its high-speed AVE trains from the end of this year.
Former state telecommunications company Telef¨®nica beat out rival Vodafone to win the €148.6-million contract to provide the service aboard the trains.?
Under the terms of the deal, Wi-Fi will also be available at all main train stations on Renfe¡¯s commuter lines
Under the terms of the 10-year deal, Wi-Fi will also be available at all main train stations on Renfe¡¯s commuter lines, said industry sources.
In a bid to get more of a return on its investment, Renfe is planning to roll out a free basic service covering email and web surfing, and a premium pay service offering greater speeds based on 4G and satellite technology.
Telef¨®nica hopes to start offering onboard Wi-Fi access on its busier lines, such as the Madrid-Barcelona route, by the end of December. The service will gradually extend to all 89 AVE trains over the next two years.
Renfe plans to invest €40 million to install all the necessary equipment, and said it sees the new internet service as a ¡°strategic¡± move to attract more customers with a view to a future scenario in which Spanish rail travel will be open to competition.
English version by Susana Urra.
Tu suscripci¨®n se est¨¢ usando en otro dispositivo
?Quieres a?adir otro usuario a tu suscripci¨®n?
Si contin¨²as leyendo en este dispositivo, no se podr¨¢ leer en el otro.
FlechaTu suscripci¨®n se est¨¢ usando en otro dispositivo y solo puedes acceder a EL PA?S desde un dispositivo a la vez.
Si quieres compartir tu cuenta, cambia tu suscripci¨®n a la modalidad Premium, as¨ª podr¨¢s a?adir otro usuario. Cada uno acceder¨¢ con su propia cuenta de email, lo que os permitir¨¢ personalizar vuestra experiencia en EL PA?S.
En el caso de no saber qui¨¦n est¨¢ usando tu cuenta, te recomendamos cambiar tu contrase?a aqu¨ª.
Si decides continuar compartiendo tu cuenta, este mensaje se mostrar¨¢ en tu dispositivo y en el de la otra persona que est¨¢ usando tu cuenta de forma indefinida, afectando a tu experiencia de lectura. Puedes consultar aqu¨ª los t¨¦rminos y condiciones de la suscripci¨®n digital.
