Spanish pay-TV operator Telefónica has launched PlayRenfe an on-board infotainment service, available to travellers on Alta Velocidad Española (AVE) high-speed trains operated by Renfe, the state-owned rail network.
The entertainment streaming platform is available to passengers equipped with an open device (smartphone, tablet or PC) via a downloadable PlayRenfe application and web portal. The new Movistar service is powered and secured by the NAGRA MediaLive platform and studio-approved DRM.
“Our goal for this project was not only to provide a unique and high-quality experience to Renfe passengers, but to deliver a reliable and advanced service in a highly challenging environment–this required an expertise that few technology companies can provide. NAGRA is one of these companies and the launch of PlayRenfe would not have been possible without their support,” said Fernando Enrile, TV Product Director at Telefónica. “By leveraging our existing OTT video platform powered by NAGRA’s technology, we are able to deploy a reliable and secure solution for Renfe with exclusive content and the best mix of entertainment and information services for their passengers.”
PlayRenfe is currently available on the Madrid-Sevilla rail line and will progressively roll out to the full Renfe AVE network which includes 100 high-speed trains. It provides connectivity, entertainment and information services to passengers with a choice of two packages – basic or premium – featuring exclusive content tailored to Renfe travelers including live TV, films, popular TV series, sports, current events and travel shows.
“We are thrilled to be a part of this unique and exciting launch and support Telefónica and Renfe as they roll out their service to the entire AVE fleet,” said Thierry Legrand, SVP Sales EMEA at NAGRA. “Our MediaLive Suite delivered on the requirements of a very complex project, leveraging the current OTT infrastructure we deployed at Telefónica. The result not only allows Telefónica to extend their service offering beyond the home, and in this case in the public transportation sector, but to deliver a one-of-a-kind, on-board consumer TV experience that connects people to the content they love, anywhere they go – even on trains traveling at more than 300 kilometers per hour.”
In March, GoMedia, launched a similar service on the London-Paris Eurostar route.
