CASE STUDY : RAIL RUNNER WIMAX TRAIN SYSTEM
During 2009, AzulStar designed and built the world’s premier wireless broadband rail network which delivers very high speed Internet aboard the NMDOT Rail Runner Train System. The highly innovative WiMAX rail network provides public high speed wireless Internet to commuters while on the train and at the stations as well as support a variety of on train system operations.
- Network delivers 2-7Mbps symmetric bandwidth at all times to 9 trains and 15 stations.
- 95 miles of track from Santa Fe, NM to Belen, NM through Albuquerque
- Project sponsored by Gov. Bill Richardson and funded by NM Dept. of Transportation.
- Network provides Free high speed Internet for commuters at trains speeds up to 90 mph
- Future network applications include emergency communications, video displays, security cameras and on-train payment processing.
- The WiMAX 4G (802.16) network delivers very high performance and >99.9% uptime with full redundancy across frequencies and paths and is highly secure with AES encryption.
- Powered using a combination of solar and existing rail power with 24 hr battery backup.
- Network construction of 25 WiMAX base stations in the rail right of way was completed in less than 10 months.
- Deployment had to overcome extreme levels of terrain including winding gorges, tunnels, hills as well as extreme desert temperature variations
- Partners include AzulStar, Cisco, Alvarion, Dragonwave, Nomad, INX and Viscom
