German trains new standard: WiFi Internet

Fast Internet connections in 2014 are almost everywhere. Usually, travel operators provide this facility to all customers as a means to make the journeys more pleasant. Such facility was missing in Germany's fast trains, but things are about to change.

One of the biggest railway operator in Germany, Deutsche Bahn confirmed all high speed ICE trains will be fitted with Internet hot spots by the end of the year. The measure regards all German Intercity-Express trains regardless their routes.

At the moment a limited number of trains allow passengers to log onto a pay-as-you-go wireless connection, but the number will be extended to cover more than 5,000 kilometers of national ICE railway network.

“Digitization must be a priority in the rail sector. The broadband technology will be standard in the manufacture of new trains, while existing ones will be upgraded gradually,” said Alexander Dobrindt, the German Minister of Transport. Deutsche Bahn also said it will equip more than 100 stations across the country with Wi-Fi internet.