CFL to Provide Mobile Coverage Throughout Railway Network

On Wednesday 6 November 2024, Luxembourg's Railway Company, the CFL, and the legal representatives of the various mobile network operators in Luxembourg signed an agreement to establish a mobile electronic communications network throughout the country's rail network.

While studies by the Luxembourg Regulatory Institute show that mobile network coverage is generally very good, it remains a major and complex challenge along the railways.

The State and the CFL want to contribute to the attractiveness of railway travel by offering connectivity solutions to customers travelling on trains and buses. Having equipped all 68 stations and stops on the railway network, as well as most of the bus fleet, with free access to a high-speed Internet connection, via CFL Free WiFi, the CFL is now launching the extension of mobile telecommunications installations on the railway network. 

According to the CFL, this complex challenge will require substantial resources for the less populated regions of the country and for those with demanding topography, but it is necessary for the connectivity of customers, as well as for the continued development of maintenance, management and monitoring technologies, based on real-time data processing.

In the framework agreements signed by the representatives of the CFL Management and the four mobile network operators (Luxembourg Online, Orange, POST Luxembourg and Proximus), rights and obligations were established concerning the construction, equipment, management and maintenance of broadcasting sites on the railway network.

The mobile network operators will equip and operate the fixed installations (pylon, connection to the electricity network) covered and built by the CFL, for a minimum period of ten years. In return for paying moderate rental fees, according to the CFL, mobile network operators will benefit from the opportunity to extend their mobile telecommunications network while contributing to the connectivity of CFL passenger customers.

By planning the future locations of telecommunications pylons on the railway network, and by ensuring that the construction costs are covered by the State ("Rail Fund") or by their Infrastructure Manager, the CFL said they are creating attractive incentives for the development of the mobile telecommunications network in areas with poorer coverage.

The CFL and mobile network operators are to agree on the location of future broadcasting sites on the railway property. An initial location has been identified, in the immediate vicinity of the so-called "flyover" engineering structure, where the tracks of the new Luxembourg-Bettembourg line will exceed the height of the existing railway line tracks. Nine areas of low coverage, all in the Gutland region of the country, have been detected by the CFL and are currently being reviewed. 

Studies are underway by the CFL to obtain continuous coverage along the entire route of the Northern Line. Particular attention will be paid to solving the lack of network in the frequent tunnels, especially north of Ettelbruck. The CFL is planning a pilot project in a tunnel during 2025.

According to Luxembourg's Minister of Mobility and Public Works, Yuriko Backes: "The efforts made in recent years to equip all stations and stops on the railway network with free Internet access have helped to strengthen the attractiveness of the train as a means of transport. With this agreement, a decisive step has been taken to further improve the comfort and experience of passengers, by guaranteeing complete mobile coverage across the entire CFL rail network in the future."  

Marc Hoffmann, Director of Infrastructure Management at CFL, explained: "Connectivity is a subject that is very close to our customers' hearts. The collaboration with all of Luxembourg's mobile network operators provides a solid basis for the continued development of the mobile network along our rail network. A sine qua non (without exception) condition for offering continuous connectivity on board our rolling stock, for taking into account the evolution of communication standards specific to rail and for promoting the continued digitalisation of Luxembourg."

The legal representatives of the operators Luxembourg Online, Orange, POST Luxembourg and Proximus added: "Today, the comfort of rail passengers necessarily involves optimal mobile connectivity. Thanks to the joint commitment of the State, CFL and mobile network operators, a solid infrastructure will be put in place to provide passengers with extensive and reliable mobile coverage. Together, we are working to strengthen the attractiveness of public transport for an ever more connected Luxembourg."