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How 5G connectivity can unlock new opportunities in the transport sector

As digital connectivity becomes increasingly vital – not just for the smooth operation of transport networks, but for everyday life itself – access to 5G can benefit a huge range of stakeholders and end users.
map marker United Kingdom | 23 June 2022
Reading Time : 4 minutes
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Today, transport is more than just travel – it connects people to each other, to jobs, to vital services and it’s essential for the logistics we all depend on every day. All this relies not just on physical assets such as roads, bridges, and train tracks, but on data and digital connectivity.

The role of data in improving transport is well established. For example, on the roads, monitoring the highways network using cameras helps operators respond quickly to incidents, provide information, and keep traffic flowing. On the railways, CCTV helps keep passengers safe, while smart card readers at station barriers make ticketing seamless. All these systems and others work by getting data from A to B, and that requires a whole ecosystem of connectivity.

So too does meeting people’s need to be always connected, to have constant access to fast internet for work, information, and entertainment at home and on the move. Indeed, the UK Government aspires to deliver nationwide gigabit-capable broadband as soon as possible and is aiming for most of the population to have 5G coverage by 2030.

Author

Dimitrios Kaltakis
Technical Director
United Kingdom
Contact

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The benefits of neutral host networks 

The advent of 5G is certainly an opportunity to connect both people and the systems on which our transport networks rely, wherever they are. But while there are no insurmountable technical barriers to doing so, making the most of the opportunity will require a new mindset. Instead of relying solely on the traditional mobile network operators to bring coverage to an area, network operators, suppliers and local government need to work together. 

This is where the neutral-host network model comes in. The UK is leading the way in adopting this approach, which involves a third-party wholesale carrier setting up infrastructure and selling access to mobile operators and other partners. With 5G connectivity in place, people get internet access, new data-driven use cases open up, and transport operators can generate a revenue stream.

The neutral host model in action

You don’t have to look far to see this approach in action. Transport for London has awarded BAI Networks a 20-year concession to deliver 4G-enabled and 5G-ready mobile connectivity to the London Underground through a deal with EE and Three. All mobile operators will be able to access this neutral host mobile network, which will also be made available to the Emergency Services Network (ESN). 

The mobile connectivity in all underground station ticket halls, platforms and tunnels is enabled by a full-fibre network that will also connect to buildings and street assets such as traffic lights and lampposts. These can use small mobile transmitter cells to leverage the power of 5G and the Internet of Things to provide data that can help improve problems such as air quality and traffic congestion.

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This model has widespread potential – particularly when combined with the Open RAN concept, which creates more open radio access network architecture. In simple terms, this means that a base station can use software and hardware from multiple vendors – opening up the market.

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Prioritising safety-critical functions

Of course, neutral-host networks used for safety-critical functions need to be resilient. Organisations can install resilient systems with battery backup and dual leaky feeders (which transmit the signal) or multiple-input multiple-output radios, meaning that if one breaks the network won’t go down. On the fibre network, the concept allows for data to be re-routed elsewhere if a fibre is cut.

Private networks, either 4G or 5G, can achieve this but with 5G, network slicing will make it even easier to prioritise certain users or uses, with operators able to assign guaranteed slices of the network. Even if a network goes down for everyone else, emergency services – for example – would still be able to use it. This provides economies of scale and opens up even more safety-critical use cases; WSP is currently working on a project to trial both private and public 5G systems for train signalling in an underground environment.

What about construction?

Installing a neutral host network in the existing, older tunnels of the London Underground is certainly quite a challenge. But what if the implementation of 5G began during the construction of transport infrastructure such as road junctions, tunnels, or new railway stations?

5G networks can pave the way for increased efficiencies and shorter construction times. Imagine having ubiquitous access to complex 3D models on-site or being able to stream a live feed of as-built information directly into BIM systems. A 5G network can enable this, increasing collaboration and driving efficiencies.  
 
An advanced 5G network can improve site safety too, through the use of real-time video analytics and highly accurate asset and personnel tracking – raising the alarm if someone is in a dangerous situation. The ultra-low latency of 5G also makes it possible to operate machinery remotely, paving the way for site automation. 

Once construction is finished, all or part of the 5G network could be used during the operational phase – with potential to provide neutral host infrastructure to mobile operators.

Expertise to make the connection

There’s a risk that a lack of in-house expertise could hold back public-sector transport bodies, both in terms of their ambitions for 5G connectivity and their ability to realise them. What’s needed is someone who can bridge the gap between network operators and suppliers, and public bodies.

This is where the technical and commercial expertise of WSP comes in. We’re able to show organisations the benefits and savings they can realise from implementing 5G technology through the neutral-host model. At the same time, we can help 5G infrastructure operators work with public- and private-sector hosts to build successful portfolios of assets. Together, we can make the most of 5G.

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