\n<\/p>\n
Last year, Belgian rail firm SNCB gave up on setting up Wi-Fi on its trains because of the \u201chigh implementation costs and coverage by telecom operators,\u201d spokesperson Tom Guillaume said.<\/p>\n
Instead, SNCB decided to pass the buck to telecom companies while it invested in \u201cde-coating\u201d glazing that is more conducive to mobile signals. \u201cTelecom operators, therefore, need to improve signal quality and coverage in the vicinity of railway infrastructure,\u201d Guillaume said.<\/p>\n
The physics of radio frequencies are also well established: The band commonly earmarked for 5G in Europe isn\u2019t great at cutting through trees and leaves, which often line train tracks. It makes it more challenging to reach cabins or phone users directly, in contrast with 4G, where the lower-band frequencies typically used can\u2019t carry as much data, but travel further and handle obstacles better.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe see in our data every summer a significant degradation in mobile network performance in areas of heavy foliage,\u201d Kehoe added.<\/p>\n
Add in the thousands of tunnels in the continent\u2019s network, and it\u2019s clear European trains have a tough job delivering solid Wi-Fi \u2014 though some countries manage to handle it better than others.<\/p>\n