Coach tours operator Leger to use Starlink as other operators also look into the new wi-fi tech
As the government promises better internet connectivity on trains in the near future, experts say newer satellite technology is set to increasingly become a feasible option for coach travel.
Leger recently said new top-specification Lumina brand coaches, which are to begin operating on tours next spring, will feature complimentary Starlink wi-fi, offering high-speed connections in the UK and abroad.
Icomera, which has supplied Flix in Europe, National Express and several train operators with connectivity solutions, says the technology is coming to coaches.
Its Chief Marketing Officer, Paul Barnes, adds: “Looking ahead, we’re seeing growing momentum behind hybrid approaches that combine cellular and satellite connectivity.
“In North America, for example, we’re already supporting multimodal transit authorities deploying satellite connectivity on rail services and extending this approach to their road-based fleets to deliver a more consistent passenger experience across modes.
“In the UK, there are early-stage discussions among coach operators around trialling satellite-based solutions alongside existing mobile connectivity.”
Scheduled coach operators already use free onboard wi-fi as a selling point, especially given that train passengers often complain about patchy connections on that mode.
Mr Barnes says of the present standard mix of 4G and 5G connections used on such coaches: “In theory, this puts coaches in a strong position and, in some scenarios, they can deliver a better connectivity experience than rail.
“The main reason is that coaches operate on road networks that are generally much closer to where cellular operators invest their infrastructure.
Rail routes, by contrast, often pass through cuttings, tunnels, and more remote corridors where coverage is harder and more expensive to deliver.”
Mark Turner, Project Manager for AD Coach Systems, which is installing the Starlink satellite equipment on Leger’s new Lumina coaches, says: “The beauty of Starlink is the overall bandwidth is higher, so you can increase the individual connection speed per passenger.
“On Global Priority and UK Priority tariffs, you’re able to get 250-350Mb/s on the vehicle, which is then distributed as 10-15Mb/s per passenger depending on the amount of passengers, which gives them a much better wi-fi experience.”
AD Coach Systems says it has already installed such systems on higher-end team coaches.
