DWT sites: DWT | Tokyo Zakka! Japanese Gadgets! | WeTokyo Friendfinder | Jobs in Japan | Eigo Factory | Snapp! Mobile PR & Marketing NEW!!


Japanese bullet train gets its Wi-Fi on
June 29th, 2006

060629_Shinkansen.jpg

Passengers on the famous Japanese Shinkansen “bullet trains” will be able to surf the Internet while traveling at 300kph thanks to a new service planned by the railway operator. But there’s going to be quite a wait until the first wireless LAN equipped trains arrive at the platform.

Central Japan Railway (JR Tokai), which operates the Shinkansen service between Tokyo and the western Japanese city of Osaka, said that it plans to offer wireless Internet service throughout all cars of its new N700-series trains from early 2009.

A general upgrade of the communications system for the trains will enable the service, which will be supplied to the train through a leaky coaxial cable that runs alongside the train tracks. A similar analog system is already in operation providing basic communications and a radio channel that is rebroadcast in the train but the new system will be digital and carry Internet traffic.

Few details of the Internet service have been worked out, except that it will be delivered to passengers through wireless LAN base stations located in each car of the train. A service provider has yet to be selected and no decision has been made on whether the service will be offered free or not, a JR Tokai spokesman said.

The communication system upgrade will bring other benefits. Also new will be an internal mobile phone service that allows the train’s driver and guard to speak to each other at any time and also allows for three-way calls with others, such as train company officials or station controllers, in the event of a problem or emergency.

— Martyn Williams (IDG News Service)

Hire us to write for you, consult on Japan tech and more.
Click here and let us know what you need and maybe follow us on Twitter for all sorts of Japan adventuring.

01:18 PM Mark Hiratsuka • Permalink
Wireless | Japan
Tagged with:
Add a comment | More DWT | Get a cool job in Japan! | Follow us on Twitter

Share this story online:

SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend

Or try the world's biggest matchmaking site:


Japanese gadgets from Tokyo Zakka! — Perfect gifts for your nerdiest friends back home!


Next entry: Hopping aboard the Mobile WiMax bus

Previous entry: Samsung Ultra slim cellphones in the flesh


C'mon - let's hear it...

Spammers beware: Any links in comments to commercial websites will be treated as paid advertising and will be charged at rate of $10 per link per day. Invoices will be sent to the idiots who hire you for so-called SEO jobs. All you good people will always keep it real, of course - thanks!