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HOTWIRELESS Solutions for Rail - POWERED BY ICOMERA
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:: High capacity broadband solutions for passenger & freight rail
:: Patented switching technology provides seamless network transition
:: Leverages concurrent trackside, wide-area & satellite backhaul
:: Connectivity for CCTV, EPOS and telematics with GPS tracking
:: Over three million passengers served by Icomera rail systems
Icomera – the original pioneer of Internet on trains
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Icomera launched its high-speed Internet technology for trains in September 2002, with the first deployment in January 2003 with Scandinavian rail operator Linx between Gothenburg and Copenhagen. Since then Icomera technology has been utilized in some of the world's largest on-train installations serving millions of passengers a year with Wi-Fi services, and providing real-time connectivity for mission-critical on-board systems
Patented Icomera technology switches networks seamlessly
The increasing demand for Wi-Fi on rail
The availability of Wi-Fi connectivity on public transport has developed at an incredible speed. In the UK alone, Icomera has supplied Moovbox technology on hundreds of vehicles for all five of the top operators – Arriva, First, Go-Ahead, National Express and Stagecoach. Internet access on trains is rapidly becoming a key passenger expectation, particularly among business travellers. A 2007 report by SQW Consulting, 'Wireless on the Move' indicated that "business travellers have increasing expectations with relation to connectivity", and customer research carried out in 2006 by YouGov found that over half of respondents want access to Wi-Fi services on trains.
This level of demand for Internet connectivity is demonstrated by experience on the UK's East Coast passenger service. In 2006 Icomera installed Wi-Fi capability on the entire fleet, then operated by GNER and now by National Express (NXEC) who assumed control of the franchise in December 2007. NXEC took the bold step of extending the Wi-Fi service to all passeners for free. During the first month of operation the number of travellers using the service tripled with numbers rising from 30,000 users per month to over 200,000 – with 85% of laptop owners taking advantage of the service. Research carried out among passengers on the East Coast service has established that Wi-Fi availability had led to a model shift; 22% extra journeys were being made by train rather than by domestic air travel due to the presence of on-board Wi-Fi.
Connecting the passengers, the staff and the fleet
The benefits of provisioning Internet access on public transport are not solely about productivity, passenger expectations and encouraging model shift. It can also function to increase safety and performance for the operator. Moovbox broadband gateways from Icomera ensure that train staff can be in constant contact with back office systems and colleagues at the Control Centre. Train systems, including heating and ventilation can be connected and updated to ensure functionality and operation in the most cost-effective way. Moovbox connectivity enables authorities and operators to supervise and manage train traffic efficiently by receiving positioning and status reporting instantly and continuously. The ability of the Moovbox to aggregate bandwidth across multiple providers and network types provides capacity to transmit footage from CCTV cameras onboard commuter trains in real time.
The Icomera Moovbox connects all aspect of fleet operations
Introducing the Moovbox M400 Mobile Broadband Gateway
The Moovbox M400 Mobile Broadband Gateway and the MoovManage Pro management service is a complete system for rail-based mobile communications. Supporing up to four simultaneous cellular data links as well as trackside Wi-Fi networks, the Moovbox M400 creates a system of unmatched flexibility, forming the heart of award-winning deployments by some of the world's largest transport operators.
HOTWIRELESS Solutions for Road - POWERED BY ICOMERA
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:: Suitable for buses, coaches, taxis, limos and private hire vehicles
:: Connect to carrier-class 3G/HSDPA/WiMAX broadband networks
:: Free or Pay-per-use Wi-Fi hotpots on the move
:: Connectivity for CCTV, DVR and telematics with GPS vehicle tracking
:: Icomera solutions deployed by the UK's top five transport operators
Broadband on-board
Cellular operators are busy rolling out networks that are capable of transferring data at brodband speeds in excess of 1 Mbps. These next-generation networks are available in many countries worldwide and, where coverage is available, offer transport operators the opportunity to deliver high-speed Internet connections to moving vehicles. The technology most commonly used to provide this service is WCDMA (3G) HSPA (High Speed Packet Access), although other technologies including mobile WiMAX and CDMA2000 are also supported. HSPA is predicted to become the dominant mobile broadband system by 2009, followed by EV-DO and WiMAX [Informa, Feb 2008]. Typically download speeds of 1-2 Mbps are achievable in metropolitan and suburban areas and along major roads between towns and cities. Within a few years it is expected that speeds will increase to over 5 Mbps comparable to a wireline home or business broadband connection today. The availability of high-speed broadband connections on vehicles opens up a host of new possibilities for operators of public and private transportation.
In-Bus Network using the Moovbox M200 Mobile Broadband Gateway
Wi-Fi hostpots in the move
Equipping a bus or coach with a broadband connection means that passengers can benefit from an on-board Wi-Fi hotspot service, enabling them to check email and surf the web during their journey. The service works like any fixed hotspot in a hotel, coffee shop or airport; research has shown that Wi-Fi Internet access is popular on journeys as short as fifteen minutes making it suitable for urban commuter routes as well as intercity connections.
Remote viewing of on-board CCTV
Today CCTV systems are commonplace on public transport to improve passenger and vehicle security. Cameras are typically mounted inside and outside the vehicle and record to a disk-based Digital Video Recorder (DVR). However the recorded footage is only available once the vehicle returns to the depot. With an on-board broadband connection, fleet operators can access video footage and live camera feeds while the vehicle is in transit, significantly improving response times to incidents and, where necessary, liaising with emergency services.
GPS-enabled web-based vehicle tracking
Every transport operator wants to keep the number of ‘black boxes’ on a vehicle to a minimum. With a broadband connection and a GPS receiver, a vehicle can be tracked in real-time by sending GPS coordinates over the Internet so a vehicle’s current (and historical) position is shown on a moving map via any secure web broswer. When combined with information about cellular network coverage, the same GPS data can help build a map of network availability and quality which assists in planning whether or not a particular route can get a broadband connection throughout a journey.
Introducing the Moovbox M Series Mobile Broadband Gateway
The award-winning Moovbox M200 Mobile Broadband Gateway and the MoovManage hosted management service as a complete system for road-based mobile communications. It will work with existing on-board systems such as telematics and CCTV and provide connectivity for other equipment too.
The Icomera Moovbox – delivering connectivity to vehicles worldwide.
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