Renfe has launched a tender worth €85.4m to completely renew the connectivity systems on its High Speed and Long Distance rolling stock. The operator aims to replace the current PlayRenfe network with a new platform integrating passenger-facing Wi-Fi and infotainment with operational railway communications on a single infrastructure.
Of the total, €49.7m is allocated to capital expenditure and €35.7m to operating costs. The rollout will cover 183 trainsets across all high-speed series, extending these capabilities to more than 26 additional units beyond those currently equipped.
The new connectivity layer will combine LTE, 5G and low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite links to reduce dropouts and improve stability, particularly on sections with limited terrestrial coverage.
The architecture will also be future-proofed for 5G NTN (Non-Terrestrial Networks), enabling direct integration between mobile networks and satellites without intermediate ground infrastructure.
A comprehensive refresh of the onboard network is included, boosting transmission capacity to up to 10 Gbps and adding enhanced onboard cybersecurity to protect equipment and software. Data traffic will be prioritised by criticality, with railway operations and safety communications taking precedence over passenger entertainment.
Will onboard entertainment return?
Beyond Wi-Fi, the platform will integrate operational systems such as passenger information (PIS), CCTV, remote rolling stock diagnostics and energy management, alongside future digital services. Renfe also leaves the door open to reintroducing onboard entertainment via PlayRenfe.
Deployment will be phased over five years, with a dedicated pilot for each train series prior to full rollout, reflecting differing baseline configurations. During the transition, existing equipment will coexist with the new infrastructure, which will progressively replace it.