Britain's onboard train wi-fi is one of Europe's worst. This is how people manage

The UK's onboard train wi-fi ranks among the slowest in Europe, with average speeds of just 1.09 Mbps, prompting a £57m government plan to overhaul the network over the next five years [1]. A 2025 report by network testing company Ookla placed the UK 16th out of 18 major European and Asian countries for onboard connectivity, far behind Sweden's 64.58 Mbps and Switzerland's 29.79 Mbps [1]. The current system relies on 4G and 5G mobile network signals, which the Department for Transport notes can fail if there is no signal outside the train [1]. The government's project aims to upgrade 1,400 trains on mainline nationalised services with satellite technology, seeking to boost wi-fi availability from 50-60% to at least 90% and increase speeds five- to 10-fold [1]. Passengers report widespread frustration. "I just wouldn't risk having an important video call," said Rebecca Kendall, who estimates she completes only half her usual workload on trains [1]. Bhaav, 32, who hotspots from his phone, finds work calls "almost impossible," adding, "Given the train prices, it's pretty frustrating" [1]. While some, like Nelson Ntumba, see unreliable connectivity as a chance for a "digital detox," the poor service contrasts sharply with the average maximum UK household download speed of 285 Mbps reported by Ofcom [1]. The planned upgrade follows trials with operators including LNER and Great Western Railway, with Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander expected to formally announce the plans this summer [1].