Cobham Wireless has delivered a critical communications system on Beijing’s New Airport metro line, marking the company’s 100^th deployment in China. Cobham Wireless’ TETRA products are now providing coverage for driver and public safety communications across an estimated 77 percent of the country’s metro system.

Cobham Wireless deployed its first 800 MHz TETRA system in China’s underground public transport system in 2005, when the Nanjing line 1 opened. Since then, the company’s technology has been installed on metro lines across 30 cities in mainland China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Wuhan and Chengdu etc. Cobham Wireless’ equipment has been installed in over 70 percent of the world’s metro systems.

The 100^th project, for Beijing’s New Airport line, incorporates an 800 MHz TETRA system, which provides essential communications for the metro line’s train drivers. Previous deployments have included both this system and a 350 MHz TETRA public safety communications system.

Cobham Wireless’ TETRA products are able to extend the reach of a base station into underground environments. The company has provided a cost-effective solution to delivering coverage throughout China’s metro system, as its technology reduces the number of base stations needed to operate a network, reducing CapEx and OpEx.

“Deploying connectivity on the 100^th metro line in China is a landmark moment for Cobham Wireless,” commented Bret Li, sales manager, China, Cobham Wireless. “China presents a unique set of challenges for comms technology; temperatures can soar to 50 degrees in the summer and plunge to minus 30 in the winter! To guarantee passenger and driver safety, equipment must be robust and reliable and able to run 24/7 throughout the year. Cobham Wireless’ repeaters can withstand this tough environment, and thanks to this latest deployment, we’ll be helping to ensure the safety of the 12 million or so passengers which use Beijing’s metro daily.”

Cobham Wireless’ software-based technology allows new features and capabilities to be easily installed, future-proofing the system and lowering CapEx. The technology can reduce noise transmitted to the base station, improving overall network performance. Systems are easily configured either locally or remotely via a simple graphical user interface or using the Cobham Wireless Active Element Manager system.

Housed in secure, robust and weatherproof IP65/NEMA 4 cases, the coverage solution can withstand the toughest extremes of weather in China.

“Many cities in China have populations exceeding five million, so efficient, reliable and safe public transport is a key government concern. The coming years will see continued investment and rapid construction of metro lines across the Republic and, due to Cobham Wireless’ experience and expertise in TETRA, as well as the strength of our service team, we look forward to delivering further projects in the future.”