To ensure more stable internet access during trips, in June of this year, the passenger carrier Vivi equipped a train with Starlink satellite internet, representatives of Vivi told bb.lv.
Starlink is a global satellite internet system deployed by the American company SpaceX under the leadership of Elon Musk. An IPO is expected in the coming weeks, during which the company could be valued at $1.75–2 trillion. This is approximately 100 annual state budgets of the Republic of Latvia.
Vivi is a subsidized Latvian state company.
What connects them? As part of a pilot project, internet access was established in a modernized diesel train consisting of four cars.
The new solution will allow passengers to use free internet throughout the journey, including on routes where the mobile internet coverage provided by Latvian operators was previously insufficient or unstable.
Passengers will be able to use Starlink internet just like the existing Wi-Fi on the train, connecting to the onboard network. While in motion, the system will automatically switch between Latvian mobile operators and the American Starlink. This will allow passengers to enjoy uninterrupted internet access while traveling.
The modernized diesel train was specifically chosen for the pilot project because it operates on longer regional routes where passengers spend more time traveling, and internet access is particularly important. Additionally, in certain sections of these routes, mobile internet coverage is inadequate.
During the pilot project, the possibility of wider implementation of this solution in other Vivi trains will be studied.
In 2025, Vivi trains transported 21.3 million passengers. The company employs more than 950 staff.
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