Nomad Digital Wins Onboard Communications Order for Italo's 26 High-Speed Trains in Germany

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Nomad Digital announced that it has secured a contract from Italian high-speed rail operator Italo to provide onboard internet and passenger infotainment systems for 26 Siemens Velaro high-speed trains that Italo plans to deploy in the German market. The contract covers Nomad Digital's 5G Internet On Board solution and the Nomad Engage passenger portal, with the trains scheduled to enter operation in the German high-speed rail market from 2028.

The onboard communications solution will use both terrestrial cellular networks and low-earth-orbit satellite communications, with connection optimization between different networks handled through Nomad Digital's intelligent hybrid aggregation technology. In addition to onboard internet, Nomad Engage will provide passengers with media, entertainment, and journey information services. The contract was awarded to Italo through a competitive tender, and the contract value has not yet been disclosed.

The communications system will be installed on the 26 Velaro Multi System high-speed trains that Italo ordered from Siemens Mobility in July this year. These trains have a maximum operating speed of 320 km/h, consist of 8 cars each, offer approximately 450 seats, and are pre-equipped for 5G and high-speed satellite communications. The rolling stock contract Italo signed with Siemens Mobility also includes options for 14 additional trains and 30 years of maintenance services, with the train procurement and related maintenance contract valued at approximately EUR 3 billion.

Italo plans to invest a total of approximately EUR 3.6 billion to enter the German high-speed rail market, covering not only new train procurement but also stations, IT infrastructure, and recruitment and training of personnel. The 26 new trains will be operated by Italo International's German companies, with Atrium responsible for rail operations and Mainsee holding the rolling stock assets; both companies are based in Frankfurt.

Nomad Digital has previously participated in upgrading the communications systems of Italo's existing high-speed train fleet in Italy. Its existing cooperation covers 51 AGV and EVO Pendolino high-speed trains with deployed 5G onboard internet systems. Public test data from 2026 showed that the hybrid 5G and low-earth-orbit satellite solution achieved sustained bandwidth of over 100 Mbps in tests on Italo's train routes, with peaks of 350–400 Mbps and latency below 40 milliseconds. This German order further applies the hybrid communications system to the newly procured Velaro high-speed trains.