Eurotunnel proposes wi-fi under the sea

Ahead of the Olympics, enough people must be looking at London’s precarious transport system on the one hand and the alternative 2hours 10 minutes from Paris to the Olympic site at Stratford International by Eurostar on the other, for Eurotunnel to be installing a 2G and 3G telephone system in the tunnel under The Channel in time for the Games. And, as a pleased press release says: “Offering a wi-fi service 100 metres below sea level, to the almost 20 million customers who travel through the 53km of the Channel Tunnel every year is a world first.”

The installation, which will cost of €14 million, has been made possible by the signature of an agreement between Eurotunnel and the telecoms operators in France, Bouygues Telecom, Orange SFR and Free1.

The installation of this additional, mobile telecommunications service has been made possible as Eurotunnel is already in the process of installing the latest version of GSM-R2 railway signalling equipment. The choice of the same equipment supplier for both GSM-P and GSM-R, Alcatel-Lucent, will ensure the compatibility of the infrastructure and enable costs to be controlled whilst accelerating the installation. The French operators will provide an extension of their 2G/3G coverage through the South running tunnel (running France-UK) via a transmitter cable and optical repeaters positioned every 750 metres. The North running tunnel (UK-France) will be covered by British operators after the Olympic Games.

Eric Besson, the French Government minister responsible for the Digital Economy stated: “This agreement means that from now on customers travelling through the Channel Tunnel will be able to use the full range of 2G and 3G mobile communication services. I am delighted with this achievement. I would like to thank Eurotunnel for their initiative, the major French mobile operators for their enthusiasm and Alcatel-Lucent for their savoir-faire in delivering the technical solution.”

Jacques Gounon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Eurotunnel stated: Eurotunnel, the vital link between the UK and France, is proud to commit to this investment which will enable the connection of peoples, nations and cultures in this time of instant communications. Eurotunnel is sure that enabling mobile communications from below the waves will be an attraction for many customers.”