The Rising Demand for Data on Public Transportation

The demand and consumption of Internet data by passengers and onboard systems on public transportation have steadily increased, alongside the implementation of each new generation of wireless communications technologies and standards.

Passengers rely on connected devices for work, entertainment, and communication during their journeys, and expect to be able to use the Internet, on demand, wherever they are, turning their journey time into productive time. With the ability to send emails or take part in conference calls, commuters can work beyond the office, while leisure passengers can communicate with friends and family via social media, shop online, or catch-up with the latest news. At the same time, onboard systems increasingly require Internet connectivity for various functions, such as real-time passenger information, fleet management and digital video surveillance.

These sources of data demand present two main challenges for transport operators:

1. Passengers and onboard systems share the same limited bandwidth of the onboard Internet connectivity.

2. Connectivity needs to be available for the entire journey through rural and/or urban environments. One of the methods presently employed to provide passengers with Internet connectivity during their journey is to facilitate direct connections from their mobile devices to cell towers along the route. However, this approach is unable to offer the coverage and capacity required to meet the increasing demand for data, because each connection relies on a single Mobile Network Operator (MNO) at a time.

In most countries, MNOs and regulators face a challenge in delivering adequate coverage and capacity along public transport routes, given that areas of the route are generally sparsely populated, and the time and financial cost of developing high-capacity cellular networks that span entire long-distance routes is considerable. So, while coverage and capacity may be bolstered along shorter, urban routes, cellular “not-spots” are always likely to remain on longer routes that pass through rural/sparsely populated areas.

Overcoming these connectivity issues requires innovative approaches to optimise bandwidth allocation and enhance the overall connectivity experience.