TI to deploy Wi-Fi along high speed rail network

Telecom Italia (TI) has announced that it has secured a contract to roll out Wi-Fi hotspots along the Italian high speed train service, the Frecciarossa, cellular-news reports. Under the deal, TI will collaborate with Rete Ferroviaria Italiana to install radio communications infrastructure along all 900km of the rail network between Turin and Naples, equipping all Frecciarossa trains with supportive systems. The deployment will commence in April 2010 and TI expects to complete the project by the end of the year. The company says that the rollout will not only add internet connectivity to the line but also improve mobile coverage, boosting signal strength and resolving connections issues, particularly in tunnels.