Shanghai (CNS)--Wireless communication conditions have improved on the Beijing-Shanghai high speed trains since the trial period. Passengers can now conveniently use mobile communications. Certain regions along the railway also allow for 3G Internet surfing. Wi-fi services will be provided in the future.
On July 4, in a test-run by a group of journalists from Beijing to Shanghai, there were no troubles with phone calls made with the three main telecom networks along the entire railway line. In attempts to log onto the internet with China Telecom’s TalesWeaver and China Unicom's WO 3G services, signals were relatively better in the major cities of Beijing, Tianjin, Nanjing, and Shanghai.
In regions like Shandong and Jiangsu, Internet signals were often interrupted, especially in the tunnels. According to telecom experts, the mountainous geology causes problems with Wi-Fi coverage and, thus, there are signaling difficulties.
The key to wireless calls and internet in high speed train lies in communication of signals between neighboring stations. According to a knowledgeable employee at China Telecom, a new method will soon be adopted to decrease the chances of service disconnection. Moreover, repeaters, receptors, and magnifiers have been installed in the trains to provide better signals.
The high speed railway is also working on a wireless local area network, though it is not yet in use due to insufficient equipment. Some telecom providers have expressed their intent to cooperate with the high speed railway managers on Wi-Fi affairs. The administration’s office has announced that Wi-Fi service will be available by end of this year.
