Italo

Enabling a new generation of passenger connectivity on Italy’s high-speed rail

How Italo, Nomad Digital and Westermo improves travel experience with Next-Gen Onboard Wi-Fi

For high-speed rail operators, onboard connectivity has shifted from a “nice to have” to a core part of the passenger experience. Travelers now expect fast, stable Wi-Fi that supports work, entertainment, and real-time travel information, even at speeds of 300 km/h.

Italo, the high-speed train operator, faced this exact challenge. While its fleet already offered onboard internet access, the underlying technology was based on earlier generations of mobile connectivity and onboard Wi-Fi infrastructure. As 5G networks have grown across Italy, the gap between passenger expectations and onboard performance became increasingly visible.

Beyond speed, Italo also needed a solution that could:

• Deliver better performance and stability
• Scale across a mixed fleet of trains
• Be future-ready, minimizing disruption and cost for upcoming upgrades
• Support a more flexible onboard digital portal and new passenger services

To address this, Italo partnered with Nomad Digital, a global specialist in train connectivity and passenger experience systems, to design and deliver a next-generation onboard connectivity solution.

The solution: a future-ready onboard connectivity platform

 The project began with a proof of concept, upgrading two trains to evaluate real-world performance across Italy’s diverse operating environment. This allowed Nomad Digital and Italo to validate technology choices under live conditions.

A key element of the solution is a modern Wi-Fi infrastructure (802.11ac Wave 2), designed for high passenger density. The Westermo Ibex 1510 Access Points, specifically engineered to withstand the demanding conditions of rail environments, were selected by Nomad Digital for the project. The Wi-Fi 6 devices provide reliable efficient high-speed data transfers, an essential foundation for consistent passenger Wi-Fi performance.

The Access Points were paired with advanced rooftop antenna configurations using MIMO technology to improve signal quality and resilience.

"Passengers judge the experience from the moment they connect, which puts high demands on the Access Point. Supporting hundreds of devices in a tight space demands proven, rail ready hardware. This is why we selected Westermo Ibex AP's for this project."

Paul Vaclik, Head of Product Innovation, Nomad Digital

The impact: measurable performance gains and increased passenger satisfaction

The results of the 5G-enabled onboard connectivity rollout were immediate and measurable.

During the proof-of-concept phase, technical measurements showed dramatic improvements compared to the legacy onboard internet system:

• Download speeds increased by up to 460%
• Upload speeds improved by more than 160%
• Web page loading times reduced by nearly 80%
• Latency reduced by almost 30%, delivering a smoother browsing experience

Just as importantly, these technical gains translated directly into improved passenger perception. Customer satisfaction surveys conducted onboard and via web questionnaires showed:

• A 7.1 percentage point increase in passengers rating the Wi-Fi experience as “better” on 5G-equipped trains
• A significant increase in daily onboard Wi-Fi usage
• More passengers choosing onboard Wi-Fi over their own mobile connections

These improvements were achieved without major changes to passenger behavior or any communication campaigns, highlighting how performance alone can reshape perception.

"The real world data speaks for itself: better connectivity drives higher satisfaction and more passenger engagement. With a 5G ready platform, operators can deliver the digital experience travellers increasingly expect."

Gerald von Pok, Regional Sales Director, Nomad Digital

Designed for the present and prepared for the future

Nomad Digital has delivered a solution that not only improves today’s passenger experience but also prepares Italo for the future. For railway operators across Europe and beyond, the project demonstrates a clear lesson: upgrading onboard Wi-Fi is no longer just about faster internet, it’s about building a reliable digital backbone that can evolve with passenger expectations.

At Westermo, we are proud to support this ecosystem by providing robust onboard networking components that help enable reliable data communication in demanding rail applications.