Starlink Wi-Fi Tested on Italian Trains

Starlink’s high-speed satellite Wi-Fi will soon be available on the high-speed Rome-Milan line.

Ferrovie dello Stato (FS) has launched a testing phase to provide a stable Wi-Fi connection aboard high-speed trains, particularly on the Rome-Milan line. The experiment, which will last a few weeks, involves two technology providers, including Starlink, the satellite internet service developed by SpaceX, Elon Musk’s company.

The announcement was made by the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Matteo Salvini, at the Trento Economy Festival. He emphasized that one of his first goals upon taking office was to ensure reliable connectivity along the entire high-speed line. Until now, this has never been fully achievable.

A validated trial already?

The system involves installing Starlink antennas, the famous dishes, on the roofs of the train cars and in some isolated stations. These devices capture the satellite signal and transmit it via Wi-Fi inside the trains. Salvini claims that if the tests are successful, he will personally support an agreement with Starlink.

On FS’s side, they confirm the investment in several projects aimed at enhancing onboard connectivity. The goal is to improve the travel experience for passengers. Among the companies involved is Icomera, a provider of onboard Wi-Fi, which has integrated Starlink into its systems. Officials specify that other experiments involving Starlink satellites are currently being evaluated within the group’s subsidiaries.

However, this initiative is not unanimously supported. The opposition harshly criticizes the project. Green Party deputy Angelo Bonelli accuses Salvini on Il Sole 24 Ore of transforming Italy into a “technological American colony”. Democratic senators Lorenzo Basso and Antonio Nicita denounce it as a “gift to Elon Musk”. Salvini reacted from Trento: “If Musk expects a gift from me, he might be waiting a long time.” A small subscription check for Starlink is already not bad, right?

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