Beijing Metro Expands Wireless Coverage In Advance of Olympics

Andrew, the CommScope, Inc. division that is a global leader in communications systems and products, was chosen to supply and install wireless networking systems that will improve coverage and add network capacity in Beijing Metro's lines, which will see heavy use during the upcoming international event.

"Andrew is proud to supply the equipment along with design and installation expertise to make certain Beijing is ready for the millions of visitors it will receive this year," said Patrick Leung, managing director, Andrew Telecommunications (China) Co., Ltd., Andrew's China subsidiary. "Andrew has a strong track record in supporting rail systems around the world, including 12 previous projects in Beijing. In fact, Andrew has supported nearly 30 metro rail projects in Shanghai, Guangzhou and other major Chinese cities to ensure world-class wireless communications."

Andrew's RADIAX radiating cables and, in some cases, ION-M repeaters are being deployed in the Beijing Metro to support private, public and security wireless usage. The Capital Airport Express Line will use Andrew's equipment for all three applications, ensuring company personnel, passengers and first responders have available wireless signals in the line's tunnels and on platforms. Passengers with GSM, CDMA, or GPRS-enabled mobile devices will benefit from the enhanced signal capabilities, while emergency personnel and railway employees will have dedicated networks for doing their jobs.

The Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games has predicted that Beijing will receive 6.4 million visitors during the events, which would have put Beijing Metro's previous wireless network capacity under strain. "Beijing and other cities in China are witnessing rapid expansion of their metropolitan railway systems," said Leung. "Andrew is happy to be working with many of these cities to add the necessary wireless coverage for a convenient, satisfying passenger experience. We continue to place high priority in helping develop the Chinese wireless market."

Installing, tuning and activating new radio networks in subway systems is often challenging, with work limited to off-hour periods. Access to the Beijing lines is only available from midnight until 4:00 a.m. each day, making efficiency a top priority for this project. To assist in meeting deadlines, Andrew implemented a new product inspection process to protect against quality issues that might cause delays. Thanks to these efforts, the first trials are planned for April 1, and Beijing Metro expects to activate the networks for passenger use by August when the Games begin.

Among numerous other projects, Andrew previously was chosen to provide coverage and capacity for the Turin, Italy, underground in advance of the 2006 Winter Olympics and for many of the 2006 World Cup venues in Germany.

Photo by FHKE. Creative Commons License Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic