Huawei Wi-Fi Network Upgrades Quito Transit

Background

Quito Mass Transit Needed Help

In Quito, Ecuador, the major city-run transit company known as EPMTPQ* operates and manages almost all the capital city’s public transportation vehicles, including buses, trams, and trolley buses. More than half of the city’s population of 2 million use the agency’s vehicles every day.

Quito’s commuters strongly demanded Wi-Fi network access while traveling anywhere in the city. In September 2016, EPMTPQ decided to upgrade the IT technology on its vehicles and lines to improve passenger satisfaction and enhance the quality of public services. The goal was to provide passengers with free Wi-Fi network access and implement video security and emergency communication for its vehicles.

Challenges

Find the Best Solution

To verify the feasibility of Wi-Fi network deployment, EPMTPQ conducted thorough research. Results showed that deployment of Wi-Fi networks for vehicles faced the following challenges:

Bandwidth: EPMTPQ uses buses made up mainly of three carriages. The vehicles are nearly 30 meters long and can carry up to 225 passengers. ETMTPQ wanted to deploy three High-Definition (HD) video security cameras on each vehicle and provide Internet access to passengers with services such as Web surfing, social networking, and video calling. Therefore, Wi-Fi networks on vehicles needed to support high bandwidth and more than 100 concurrent users.

High-density coverage: EPMTPQ’s vehicles drive through complex environments, including elevated roads, dense urban areas, and suburbs. It is difficult to be able offer high-quality Wi-Fi services in closed, passenger-intensive vehicles in such complex electromagnetic environments.

Stability: Security is an important consideration for EPMTPQ, and stability of the Wi-Fi networks is critical to emergency communications and video security services.

Solution

Agency Chose Huawei

The transit agency chose Huawei’s innovative WLAN backhaul solution, which was specifically designed for vehicle-ground backhaul in the transportation industry. The solution boasts the following highlights that effectively solved EPMTPQ’s problems:

‘Soft Switching ’ Ensures High Bandwidth, Low Delay, and Multi-User Concurrency

Huawei’s backhaul solution uses ‘soft switching’ technology that improves uplink bandwidth and reduces delay:

Real-time evaluation of link quality: When a vehicle is in motion, the vehicle-mounted Access Point (AP) continuously evaluates the quality of each link, dynamically deletes poor-quality links, and establishes new links with track-side APs that have high-quality, forward-transmitted signals

Optimal link switching algorithm: By leveraging the switching algorithm, this solution ensures that optimal data backhaul links are always used, so that data backhaul channels use link switching

Reduced packet loss: Target links to be switched are built before soft switching is implemented. Using the unique optimization technology of the forwarding plane, Huawei’s solution minimizes the probability of packet loss during switching.

WLAN Planning Tool Reduces Interference

Good Wi-Fi networks require sound network planning. Huawei provides a WLAN planning tool that covers a variety of environments such as station platforms, and elevated, straight, and winding roads. Using this tool, users can establish transmission models based on WLAN characteristics, perform calibration for scenario-specific transmission models, and accurately estimate AP deployment distance. Huawei’s WLAN planning tool is also able to obtain network rates based on cell-edge signal strength, thus matching the required bandwidth. This greatly improves network construction efficiency and reduces construction costs.

Vehicle-Mounted, Dual-5G AP Provides High-Density Coverage

Huawei’s AP9131DN, tailored for vehicle-mounted scenarios, complies with the 802.11ac standard and provides a maximum rate of 1.75 Gbit/s. The AP9131DN meets waterproof and fireproof requirements and uses industrial anti-vibration M12 sockets.

Dual-plane Backup Delivers High Reliability

Wireless signal interference caused by roadside greenbelts and residential buildings adversely impacts WLAN system stability. To solve this problem, Huawei uses the A + B plane solution that deploys backhaul APs on both the front and back of vehicles. Under normal circumstances, the AP in front establishes connections with roadside APs and provides uplinks. Link status is monitored using a rapid inspection protocol. If link quality declines, the uplinks are immediately switched to the AP on the rear of the vehicle. This improves network stability and reliability, even in scenarios with obstacles and interference.

Benefits

For bus operators and passengers:

Huawei’s WLAN vehicle-ground backhaul solution helps EPMTPQ deliver smooth HD video security images, allowing O&M personnel to clearly observe the status of vehicles in real time

Even during rush hours, passengers can still make clear calls and smoothly download HD videos

Passengers also can browse websites, send and receive emails, download music, upload photos, and enjoy ultimate Wi-Fi experiences

Today, bus Wi-Fi — with Huawei technology — is booming throughout the world. Continuously innovative operation and service capabilities and new business models will make bus Wi-Fi even more powerful. Services such as user behavior data analysis, and pushing of location-based business information and applications in Smart Cities will be available in the near future. Bus Wi-Fi will bring tremendous, positive changes to both global bus companies and people’s commutes.

Just ask the people in Quito.

* Empresa Pública Metropolitana de Transporte de Pasajeros de Quito (Quito Metropolitan Public Transit Company)