PKP Intercity trials OneWeb LEO connectivity in Poland

Long-distance rail corridors rarely enjoy consistent 4G or 5G coverage. Cellular networks are built for population density, not remote countryside or cross-border stretches, leaving dead zones exactly where trains spend hours running. High-speed motion compounds the problem and maintaining a stable link becomes even harder as the train switches between cell towers at pace. Meanwhile, industry demand for data keeps climbing. PKP Intercity hosted the trial as part of a digital strategy to modernise and strengthen passenger Wi-Fi, onboard CCTV, telematics and trackside systems across its entire railway network.

PKP Intercity, like many rail operators, has to balance three persistent pain points:

• Patchy coverage across rural and cross-border sections of track
• Unstable handovers between cell towers at high speed
• Growing pressure to meet passenger expectations and run operational systems without interruption   

Without a resilient network to bridge these gaps, service quality and operational visibility will suffer. 

The Need: Resilient Connectivity for Rail Operators

A reliable rail-grade service demands low latency, seamless switching between satellite and terrestrial links, and rugged, power-efficient hardware that has been certified to withstand the wear and tear in any rail environment. Systems that have uninterrupted access to real-time data are better able to launch new or enhance existing critical applications such as maintenance alerts, signalling and safety monitoring. 

Rail connectivity solutions that can demonstrate the ability to maintain links across remote and cross-border stretches, as well as integrate with onboard and trackside systems and connect high-speed fleets affordably, become game-changing for the wider rail ecosystem. 

The Solution: OneWeb LEO Connectivity on PKP Intercity

ACO Solutions led the integration, HispaSat handled distribution, and Eutelsat supplied the OneWeb LEO connectivity behind the trial. This was a genuine multi-partner effort to prove LEO satellite connectivity for trains works seamlessly under real operating conditions.

Mapping the Trial Route Across Poland

The train ran the Kozłów-to-Warszawa-to-Tczew corridor at speeds up to 160 km/h; a demanding stretch that mixes dense urban stations with open countryside. Throughout the journey, the system gathered performance data and tested seamless switching between the OneWeb LEO system and terrestrial networks, keeping the connection stable as coverage conditions shifted.

Deploying Rail-Certified Hardware on Board

Onboard, engineers fitted a TÜV Rheinland-certified Kymeta Kestrel u5 terminal, a rugged, low-profile antenna built specifically for rail. With an IP69K rating and a power draw under 100W, it is designed to handle vibration, weather and constant motion without straining onboard systems. Fuller details of the trial are available from Eutelsat.

The Impact: A Future-Ready Passenger Experience

The trial proved that seamless satellite-terrestrial switching holds up at 160 km/h, keeping onboard and operational data flowing across the entire route. As Eva Bisgaard, President of Eutelsat's Connectivity Business Unit, put it, the milestone shows how LEO connectivity can support both the passenger experience and increasingly digital rail operations. PKP Intercity gained valuable experience and insight into how Eutelsat, Hispasat and ACO Solutions work together to connect passengers and support rail operations reliably. For rail operators across Europe, the benefits of satellite for rail connectivity will be:

• Increased continuity of operations across remote and cross-border stretches
• Improved passenger experience through consistent onboard connectivity
• More scalable coverage for rail operators across Central Europe and beyond

For Eutelsat, low Earth orbit connectivity has become a practical foundation for rail connectivity in every continent that we serve.