Providing reliable wireless coverage inside large buildings can be challenging, but doing so in structures moving at 350 km/h is even more daunting. That is why Telecom Italia called on Andrew Solutions, the CommScope Inc. division, to provide its equipment, commissioning services, and expertise in support of 2G and 3G wireless networks on Trenitalia Frecciarossa high speed trains in Italy.

As part of the new coverage and capacity project led by Telecom Italia, Andrew’s in-train solution is extending reliable wireless signals to passengers and staff on all 60 Frecciarossa trains. Andrew supplied about 600 Node AM dual band digital repeaters and kilometers of RADIAX® radiating cable with connectors and accessories, in addition to helping design and commission the wireless coverage system. An Andrew Node AM repeater, pickup antenna for GSM 900 MHz/UMTS 2100 MHz/GPS frequency bands, and meters of RADIAX are installed in each train carriage.

The solution is helping produce elongated cells that reduce the number of handovers required while boosting signal strength within the handover region. The Frecciarossa high speed train line is the fastest in Trenitalia’s fleet, with speeds reaching between 300 to 350 kilometers per hour.

“Though Andrew has an extensive history of supplying wireless coverage and capacity solutions for metropolitan railways worldwide, this is our largest in-train coverage project ever in Italy,” said Samuel Buttarelli, Director of Regional Sales, Southern Europe, Andrew Solutions. “We are proud to work closely with Telecom Italia in furnishing this solution.”