HUBER+SUHNER and ENGIE INEO have signed a framework agreement to equip 140 trains of French railway company SNCF’s très grande vitesse (TGV) high-speed fleet. Until 2018, HUBER+SUHNER will supply all required passive components for the world’s first broadband passenger Wi-Fi network on high-speed trains with ENGIE INEO speeds of up to 300km/h. The contract also includes an option to equip a further 160 trains in 2017-2018.

All components needed for the communication networks will be delivered in kit form for each train. The kits will include RADOX® fiber optic Q-ODC assemblies, preassembled RADOX® radio frequency cables, SENCITY® antennas, RADOX® Railcat CAT7 databus cables and RADOX® power cables.

"As passenger numbers have risen over the years and modernisation of the TGV service has become increasingly important, the need to improve the passenger experience has also greatly increased," said Didier Traube, managing director of INEO UTS. "HUBER+SUHNER provides us with all the passive components required for broadband passenger Wi-Fi on the TGV fleet. The kitting service, combined with HUBER+SUHNER’s ability to meet SNCF’s stringent requirements, has made this collaboration a resounding success."

At the request of SNCF, the products from HUBER+SUHNER had to comply with the EN 45545-2 standard for fire safety, EN 50121 for electrical safety and EN 61373, which imposes strict requirements for vibration and impact resistance.

"The delivery for the TGV fleet demonstrates that HUBER+SUHNER is able to provide all passive components for communication solutions from a single source, whether wired or wireless and whether copper, fiber or coaxial connections," said Patrick Riederer, Head of the Low Frequency division at HUBER+SUHNER. "This partnership is not only a very important step in the French market, but is also in line with our Connected Mobility market initiative, which aims to bring together the worlds of communication and railway. HUBER+SUHNER enables connected mobility – anywhere and at any time."

The first commercial journey of the modernised TGV trains took place in December 2016. This was the first time passengers were able to use a broadband Wi-Fi network at speeds of up to 300km/h, thanks to the connectivity technology of HUBER+SUHNER.