V/Line to boost mobile coverage on trains

Victorian regional transport operator V/Line is conducting a new raft of mobile signal strength tests on its trains, following ongoing complaints from customers.

In a Facebook post V/Line said the testing would reveal the extent of mobile coverage blackspots along a number of the lines it travels, and that the data gleaned from the tests would  “allow us and the government to examine technical options to address these coverage issues”.

V/Line is conducting mobile phone signal strength tests.

The new tests come after testing conducted last year found fitting an external antenna did not boost Wi-fi availability, and in fact resulted in a drop in signal strength levels for Telstra connections.

The full results of the tests were revealed by V/Line after an FOI request from Victorian Greens leader Greg Barber.

At the time V/Line said it was unable to install a mobile phone booster to improve phone signal strength as a result of the Australian Communications and Media Authority declaring them prohibited without carrier permission.

Illegal repeaters have been blamed by Telstra for impacting its Next G mobile network.

Wi-fi on trains has become a common election promise for politicians, with the NSW government promising it by 2018, and Queensland delivering it to its newer trains late last year.

V/Line has been contacted for comment.