“As passengers demand more technology when traveling by bus or coach, the need for reliable, high-speed data communication is no longer just an option—it’s what they expect. To handle the increasing volumes of data, the right Ethernet cabling is needed behind the scenes. Furthermore, video and microphone signal quality is becoming a priority for most bus and coach manufacturers,” said Gihan Thabrew, Marketing Director at Belden. “When choosing data cables for use in confined spaces, such as passenger and engine compartments, it is critical that the cabling be flame-resistant to protect passengers in the event of a fire.”
New European standards set high fire protection requirements for cabling in the transport industry, specifically in coaches and buses.
“Our cabling has undergone rigorous testing and meets the stringent ECE standards. Now, our cables not only transmit large amounts of data at high speeds, but are also protected by a flame-resistant sheath,” Thabrew added. “In the event of a fire, the sheath burns slowly, produces no harmful substances, and does not reignite. This is essential protection for the transport industry, ensuring passenger safety.”
These wiring elements help transportation companies meet high safety standards, while offering customer amenities such as screens with real-time updated information and personal entertainment systems for individual seats.
“As new coaches are built or retrofitted, bus manufacturers and suppliers face these two critical priorities: how their wiring system can capture and share the expected level of data, and how, in turn, it can meet safety requirements and regulations. Our cables make all of that possible,” Thabrew added.
