Australian Sentinel helps Transdev with Cradlepoint 5G trial
Transdev Sydney Ferries has successfully completed a trial using Cradlepoint 5G in-vehicle offerings, managed by Cradlepoint managed service partner Australian Sentinel.
Transdev's Operations Control Office downloaded CCTV and Help Point data from vessels while also accessing primary connectivity for Public Announcement, Passenger Information Display and corporate Wi-Fi.
Funding for the project was awarded to Australian Sentinel and Transdev as part of the Australian Government's 5G Innovation Initiative grant.
Using 5G provides greater bandwidth to support connectivity requirements on modern vessels.
Transdev implemented Cradlepoint R1900 5G Ruggedised Routers on board vessels and at wharves to provide reliable IP video monitoring and Emergency Help Point services throughout Sydney Harbour.
The implementation is part of Transdev's broader mission to give vessels, wharves and offices refreshed and modern IT.
"There were two key elements of this technology that we were extremely impressed with: the 5G connection to the vessel CCTV systems, which enabled almost real-time footage review; and the speed at which we were able to get the connection live," Transdev Sydney Ferries managing director Loretta Lynch says.
In addition, the high bandwidth of the 5G offering results in clear and accurate images when streaming CCTV footage in real-time.
The reliability and stability that Cradlepoint's 5G offering provides has significantly reduced the effort and repeated attempts to gain visibility and access to all the data compared to 4G.
Further, the offering was implemented and ready to use within days.
"Our newest fleet, the River Class, produces up to 330GB of CCTV per day. That's the equivalent of 100 Netflix movies," Transdev Sydney Ferries finance and commercial general manager Eric Cannell says.
"And yet our investigation team is now able to download hours of CCTV footage in minutes, which is significantly faster than what we could get with 4G."
Australian Sentinel provides a managed service to Transdev, using NetCloud Manager to ensure network endpoints stay connected, protected, always on, available, and continuously updated with router and modem software.
"This project is a great demonstration of what can be achieved using 5G wireless connectivity and culturally aligned organisations, who focused on accelerating technology adoption and maximising benefits," Australian Sentinel managing director Tim Crouch says.
"One key benefit that we've identified is that 5G is more reliable when comparing with that of 4G and we have not seen 5G black spots on the strategically important routes travelled by the vessels.
Transdev's project needed a rugged solution capable of withstanding heat, cold, salt and motion, with a durable, metal form factor due to the ocean-based environment it would be operating in.
Cradlepoint's 5G R1900 router is built specifically for in-vehicle networks, providing users with greater ruggedness, performance, security, connectivity and utility in a compact design.
NetCloud Manager's location-based services afford admins the means to easily track and trace vessel locations and routes in real-time and determine LTE and 5G cellular coverage over a travelled area.
Moreover, NetCloud Manager contains pre-built connectors that share location data and popular fleet management solutions to give customers increased flexibility compared to one-size-fits-all approaches.
"The applications of 5G connectivity are endless; whether it's in moving vehicles, in IoT devices or for artificial intelligence," Cradlepoint Asia Pacific senior vice president Nathan McGregor says.
"The work that Australian Sentinel is doing with Transdev is an example of the huge impact that 5G connectivity can have on an organisation's operations.
"The Australian Government invested in this very worthwhile grant initiative and Cradlepoint commends grant recipients for their innovative applications and executions of 5G trials.
