Transport for NSW is conducting a trial of free Wi-Fi at Nambucca Heads Station, utilizing SpaceX Starlink low earth orbit (LEO) satellites. This decision was made due to the station being situated in a cellular blackspot.

The free Wi-Fi service is available for 60 minutes per day, per user. According to Vernon Buckle, customer environment manager of NSW TrainLink, the feedback from rail users has been positive thus far. This feedback will be utilized to gauge how passengers are utilizing the technology and to enhance future passenger service offerings.

Robert Bainton, infrastructure and integration manager at Transport for NSW, believes that providing reliable digital connectivity is a means of improving the passenger experience. The trial at Nambucca Heads station will serve as a proof-of-concept to determine whether this technology can be applied across the network for other purposes.

The NSW Telco Authority collaborated with Transport for NSW to carry out this three-month trial. The authority has been exploring LEO satellite services as an extension to its P25 trunked radio technology since August 2022. This endeavor is part of the authority’s next generation digital connectivity project.

Throughout the trial period, Transport for NSW will closely monitor the service and work on troubleshooting any technical or performance issues that may arise. Vocus operates Starlink’s ground network in Australia, with 16 LEO stations deployed.

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