Metranet have successfully delivered an innovative wireless communications network for Reading Borough Council.
The network is based around WiMAX radio communications and is the first application of its kind in Europe. It is a point to multi-point system, with central transmitters / receivers on Fountain house in the centre of Reading which are able to provide two way wireless connection to nodes right across Reading. The main trial area is the south Reading corridor and Town Centre. At each access point, Wifi has also been provided to provide end user access for applications such as VoIP and for communication with the on bus units.
The innovation is in the use of the 3.3GHz radio frequency in an area of the spectrum where it band shares with the MOD and it is hoped that this trial will lead the way for this frequency to be released by the MOD for band sharing in 2009. As a licensed area of the spectrum this could provide a secure platform for communications.
The TRG trials and evaluation are ongoing, but initial outputs have demonstrated that the quality of CCTV images are comparable to those from the fibre communications and that the wiresless communications fully meet the data transfer quality and reliability for controlling junctions under SCOOT.
Switching to wireless has the potential to significantly reduce the high revenue costs associated with operating a network over leased lines.