The Customer
The Mersey Tunnels connect the city of Liverpool with Wirral, under the River Mersey. The Queensway Tunnel, opened 1934 and the Kingsway Tunnel, opened 1971. The road tunnels are owned and operated by Merseytravel, and have their own dedicated police force, the Mersey Tunnels Police. The tunnels are used by approximately 30 million motorists every year.
The Challenge
A solution was needed that would withstand 30 million vehicles per year, sympathetic to the tunnel construction.
This was a complex project with short working windows during the tunnels planned timetable of night closures and engineering time to install seven and half kilometres of cable over a six-month period.
Implementation
Exchange Communications delivered the first in-class 4G multi-operator mobile network coverage connectivity throughout the tunnels.
The vital upgrade will significantly transform connectivity, aid emergency services in keeping motorists safe and responding to incidents.
The Mersey Tunnels Police radio system will connect into the new DAS, giving high quality coverage and making it easier for the team to keep in touch, clear lines of communication with other emergency services.
The system includes FM and DAB services which will provide the ability to use it to update motorists and the general public in the event of an emergency in the tunnels.
The system not only improves communications within the tunnels and future-proofed it as it is now able to be adapted to ever-changing advancements in technology such as AI and IoT.
Key Results / Benefits
Exchange Communications successfully implemented the new connectivity which provides the following benefits.
- Faster & Stronger 4G dedicated mobile phone coverage with faster mobile data speeds.
- 4G Reliable wireless connectivity.
- Supports tunnels emergency services.
- Better call quality throughout the tunnels.
- Future-proofed for ever-changing advancements in technology such as AI and IoT.
Quote
Steve Wake, Principal Officer (Electrical and Systems) at Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, said: “Mersey Tunnels used a legacy radio system which was coming to the end of its life. This led us the project with Exchange Communications and VodafoneThree to replace it with a new system with increased functionality.
“The system includes FM and DAB services which means we have the ability to use it to update motorists and the general public in the event of an emergency in the tunnels.”
Anthony Tierney, Chief Officer for Mersey Tunnels Police, commented on the impact the project will have for the emergency services in particular. He said: “The Mersey Tunnels Police radio system will connect into the new DAS, giving high quality coverage and making it easier than ever for our team to keep in touch and for us to also have superb, clear lines of communication with other emergency services.
“For motorists using the tunnels, they’ll have better mobile network coverage which will aid them contacting emergency services in the event of a breakdown or accident, in addition to the emergency roadside telephones located throughout the tunnels.”
Tom Sime, CEO of Exchange Communications added: “Throughout the project we worked closely with Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Mersey Tunnels Police to design and deliver a system that has improved communications within the tunnels and future-proofed it as it is now able to adapt to ever-changing advancements in technology such as AI and IOT.
“Having been involved right from the day the project kicked off, it is a very proud moment to see the system go live and have a positive impact on emergency services and motorists in Liverpool.”
Adrian Corthine, In-building Coverage Lead at VodafoneThree, said: “When people think of the in-building coverage we provide, they tend to think of places like airports, shopping centres and offices but projects like the Mersey Tunnels are just as important to ensure smooth connectivity, particularly for our emergency services.
“We’ve invested into the Exchange Communications’ system from the beginning of the project and are delighted to be the first mobile network operator to join the system.”