Member Article

North firm demos world-leading technology in Silicon Valley

A pioneering North East firm has performed the first ever US high speed broadband communication with a moving train – in Silicon Valley, California. Working with Caltrain, which operates trains between San Francisco and San Jose, Newcastle-based Nomad Digital and Intel Solution Services demonstrated their groundbreaking technology along a 16-mile section of track.Randy Rudolph, Director of Information Technology and Telecommunications at Caltrain, said: “For some time Caltrain has been looking for a way to provide uninterrupted high-speed wireless access for its passengers. “With Nomad’s cutting edge WiMAX-based technology and the successful trial completion, we can now move forward with plans to implement a wireless network along the entire rail mainline.“The demo enabled several people to surf the internet simultaneously, watch streaming video and complete large file downloads while maintaining continuous connectivity at broadband speed. The system is unique in that it provides continuous high speed coverage, even through tunnels and on underground sections of track. The high bandwidth allows innovative applications such as real time CCTV to be implemented. Now Caltrain is seeking funding to roll out the system along the full 50 miles of track to provide its 35,000 passengers daily – among the most technologically sophisticated in the world, commuting to world famous high-tech and bio-tech companies - with broadband connectivity.The successful California trial comes only a week after Nomad raised £8m in a deal with Amadeus Capital Partners and T-Mobile Venture Funds to fund its expansion. Nomad are members of Codeworks Connect, the trade association for digital businesses in the region. For more information about Connect and the benefits of membership, visit: www.codeworksconnect.net.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .