Isotrope is pleased to have assisted the GBS Group on a project to improve the Wi-Fi on the Utah Transit Authority’s FrontRunner commuter rail:
The GBS Group Selected to Deliver Passenger Wi-Fi for UTAH Transit Authority on FrontRunner Trains
Virginia Beach, VA – October 7, 2016 – The GBS Group, a systems integration and technical services firm has been given approval to complete delivery of their cellular and trackside RF passenger Wi-Fi system in place at the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) since early summer. UTA awarded a contract to GBS in late 2015 to design, install, and test a solution for their highly successful FrontRunner train which services passengers along a 90 mile corridor, centered in Salt Lake City and running as far as Ogden and Provo. After months of factory acceptance testing, GBS has been approved to complete the delivery to all FrontRunner consists by the end of the year.
“We selected The GBS Group based upon their demonstrated success as a systems integrator delivering custom, commercial rail solutions in the US, Canada, and overseas. GBS delivered a functioning test solution in May. Testing since then has shown great results along the entire corridor using cellular communications, augmented by 17 miles of trackside towers providing high bandwidth RF internet connectivity,” said UTA Manager of Technology Deployment Kyle Brimley. “We are thrilled that UTA chose The GBS Group to design and deliver such a complex project for their highly successful FrontRunner Service. UTA is an award-winning agency staffed by experts who have professionally engaged us to deliver a state-of-the-art Wi-Fi solution for their passengers and establish a digital train communication backbone capable of much more for UTA in the future” said Bob Golden, CEO of The GBS Group. “We are very proud of our amazing GBS employees and the world-class support companies that help us deliver time and time again”.
The GBS Team chose key partners to design and deliver this unique and complex Wi-Fi solution to the Utah Transit Authority. Core to the technology are train-to-ground, high throughput radio systems of RADWIN and an onboard multi-backhaul connectivity solution supplied by 21Net Ltd. Additionally, Isotrope, LLC, of Boston MA provides expertise in on-board and trackside radio frequency (RF) coverage analysis, antenna optimization, and wireless network consulting to the GBS Team to maximize network capacity available to passengers. Tabet, Inc. of Norfolk, VA manufactures precision, customized fabrication mounts, fittings and seals essential to the installation integrity of the project. The complete solution seamlessly integrates either cellular or trackside RF to give passengers the maximum possible internet speeds without interruption, at no cost to the passengers currently. The solution utilizes cloud-based application servers, hosted either outside or inside agency IT systems as desired. Remote Operations Support Systems (OSS) teams in Virginia Beach and Philadelphia monitor the performance of the system 24/7, 365, and work with local field engineers or technicians to upgrade or repair tower and train based systems.
About The GBS Group (GBS)
The GBS Group, founded in 2006, employs over 100 engineers, software developers, project analysts, controls and automation engineers solving problems for clients across the United States and Canada. GBS provides application and reliability engineering and custom hardware/software solutions for rolling stock health monitoring, passenger Wi-Fi, train station display and announcing systems for passenger rail agencies including Amtrak, VIA Rail Canada, Maryland Transit Administration, New Jersey Transit, Toronto Transit Commission, Utah Transit Authority and most recently Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit. GBS provides control and automation solutions for commercial and US Navy vessels, power monitoring and control software programming for Verizon Power in New York City, and dedicated engineers and analysts who support US Navy, Military Sealift Command and other engineering agencies servicing ships and vessels worldwide. GBS has multiple service contracts and personnel in Virginia, Washington DC, Illinois, California, Pennsylvania, New York, and Montreal.
For more information about The GBS Group go to www.TheGBSGroup.us.
About UTA
Established in 1970, UTA has become a multi-modal transportation leader that is 100 percent accessible with a fleet of more than 600 buses and paratransit vehicles, 406 vanpools, 146 light rail vehicles, 63 commuter rail cars and 18 locomotives. UTA operates in seven counties along the Wasatch Front, including 45 miles of light rail in Salt Lake County and 90 miles of commuter rail from Salt Lake City to destinations in Utah and Weber counties. In 2015, UTA ridership was more than 46.6 million boardings. Visit UTA’s social media hub at www.rideuta.com.