🏢 Client: Major Rail Infrastructure Operator (Undisclosed)
Project Scope:End-to-end design and implementation of high-speed mobile connectivity across rail assets, including trains, tunnels, and depots.🎯 Objective
To deliver seamless, carrier-agnostic 4G/5G cellular connectivity and private networking for critical operations and passenger services across multiple rail environments.
Challenges included:
- Maintaining signal integrity in tunnels
- Supporting high-speed handoffs between cells
- Ensuring low-latency connections for operations and security systems
- Addressing interference from metal and surrounding infrastructure
🛠️ PMT COMMUNICATIONS DEPLOYMENT
- Discovery & Site Analysis
- On-site survey and RF mapping of trains, platforms, depots, and tunnels.
- Identification of black spots, signal overlaps, and coverage gaps.
- Collaboration with telcos to understand carrier coverage profiles along routes.
- Network & System Design
- Customised design tailored to operational and passenger connectivity needs.
- Modelling of antenna placement for optimal gain and minimum interference.
- Integration of public 5G networks with private LTE/5G systems for redundancy.
Deliverables:
- Detailed RF propagation maps
- Finalised equipment and network architecture plan
- Redundancy and failover strategy for mission-critical systems
- Equipment Options (Best-in-Class Vendors)
- Cradlepoint (part of Ericsson) – For ruggedised, rail-certified edge routers supporting dual-SIM 5G failover and edge compute.
- Peplink – For bonded WAN solutions with SpeedFusion for seamless failover on high-speed trains.
- Cisco Industrial Networking (IR1101) – Modular platform supporting edge compute and IoT telemetry.
- Westermo / Advantech – For hardened Ethernet switches and onboard connectivity.
- Commscope / SOLiD / Nextivity – DAS (Distributed Antenna Systems) and repeaters to extend signal in tunnels and stations.
- Installation & Commissioning
- Phased deployment to minimise disruption to operations.
- High-gain rooftop antennas installed on train carriages and stations.
- DAS and repeater infrastructure deployed in tunnels and enclosed areas.
- Secure remote access and diagnostics configured for all nodes.
- Testing & Optimisation
- Live performance tests under full operational load.
- Real-time monitoring of handover speeds, packet loss, and signal quality.
- Tuning for cross-network handoff optimisation between Optus, Telstra, and Vodafone.
- Testing & Optimisation
- Live performance tests under full operational load.
- Real-time monitoring of handover speeds, packet loss, and signal quality.
- Tuning for cross-network handoff optimisation between Optus, Telstra, and Vodafone.
- Post-Deployment Support
- 24/7 remote monitoring platform for live alerts and proactive maintenance.
- SLA-based support contract for response and resolution.
- Onboarding of in-house rail teams via documentation and training.
🚀 Conclusion
PMT Communications’ ability to combine rail-specific design expertise, carrier-agnostic 5G solutions, and partnerships with leading manufacturers has made it a go-to partner for future-ready rail connectivity. From tunnels to tracks, PMT delivers resilient, scalable networks that support both safety-critical operations and passenger expectations in a modern rail ecosystem.
