Peplink and Starlink Drive the Future of Public Transport Connectivity

Peplink and Starlink Drive the Future of Public Transport Connectivity

With more individuals incorporating online activities during their commute, reliable connectivity is shifting from a luxury to a necessity. As the Welsh Government seeks to improve passenger Wi-Fi on transport in the Swansea Bay City Region area, Dragon WiFi has partnered with Richards Bros, a transport operator running the 460 route from Carmarthen to Cardigan, to trial a solution demonstrating the power and mobility of Peplink’s technologies.

Challenge

The operation previously relied on multiple standalone services, paying separately for Wi-Fi, ticket machine data, telemetry, and CCTV. The lack of integration between critical systems led to inefficiencies and these separate services incurred significant operational costs with their previous installer.

The route also frequently passed by rural areas and spots with poor network coverage, resulting in unreliable passenger Wi-Fi and affecting telemetry data transmission. Further complicating operations, the absence of a fixed IP SIM restricted remote management and troubleshooting, making it difficult to address network issues.

Solution

Dragon WiFi installed a BR1 Pro 5G and paired it with a Mobility 42G and a Starlink Mini, providing both cellular and LEO satellite connectivity throughout the route. A Band 40 small cell was integrated onboard with the help of wavemobile to enhance cellular coverage, especially in weaker signal areas. A SpeedFusion tunnel was established between the BR1 Pro 5G and FusionHub, a self-hosted virtual endpoint deployed remotely with 10G backhaul.

The BR1 Pro 5G ran on direct DC power, eliminating the need for an inverter. This simplified the system, reducing costs and minimizing heat generation. Additionally, with built-in GPS, the BR1 Pro 5G offered active GPS for tracking and real-time monitoring. The Mobility antenna ensured stronger signal reception by penetrating through the vehicle’s aluminum structure. Using InControl, the centralized network can be remotely managed and troubleshooted.

Result

This deployment, conceptualized and executed within 6 weeks by Dragon WiFi, marked a significant milestone as the first UK public bus with Starlink connectivity. With more than 150 users riding the 1.5-hour journey on different occasions, the solution achieved speeds exceeding 150 Mbps, and experienced minimal downtime of just a few seconds, which they plan to address with a dual-modem Peplink unit.

The established SpeedFusion tunnel enables SpeedFusion Bonding to aggregate available connections, delivering greater bandwidth throughout the bus. Alternatively, Hot Failover allows seamless switching between cellular and Starlink in areas where either is weaker.

Monitored on InControl and with the availability of InTouch, Peplink’s zero-touch remote network management solution, peripherals connected to the network such as CCTV cameras can be consolidated and managed on a single platform, improving the efficiency of operations.

The success of this initiative has led to discussions with additional transport partners, potentially expanding the solution to more routes and trains. The Peplink and Starlink solution has garnered attention as a cost-effective solution for reliable public transport connectivity.

“We are proud to be innovating in this space with our neutral host connectivity and the first transportation use of LTE Band 40 which shares the 5GHz WiFi band. There are some unique technical challenges to make this work well, for instance, the inclusion of an embedded core network on the bus, but this is an example of the way forward for reliable, robust on vehicle communications.”
Anthony Timson, Technical Director at wavemobile

“We aim to transform public transportation connectivity with LEO satellites, 5G and cutting-edge Peplink technology, to deliver high-quality Wi-Fi and onboard LTE solutions. We’re focused on strengthening network infrastructure to enhance passenger satisfaction, as a majority now prioritise reliable internet access. We’re not just providing connectivity; we’re creating a better and safer travel experience for everyone. Together, we’re committed to revolutionising the future of travel! Our trial with project StarBws is proof that innovation and agility can drive much needed meaningful change in the industry.”
Guy Farley, Director at Dragon WiFi