New cellular coverage system aids emergency services in keeping tunnels motorists safe.
The Mersey Tunnels have undergone a vital complex connectivity project which will aid emergency services in keeping motorists safe and responding to incidents.
The project which was greatly welcomed by Mersey Tunnels Police, was completed by Exchange Communications in partnership with VodafoneThree, on behalf of Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and is one of the biggest connectivity infrastructure projects of its kind in Britain.
Exchange Communications, the UK’s leading supplier of smart, in-building cellular solutions, built and installed a Distributed Antenna System (DAS), which is a network of antennas that enhances wireless coverage in buildings or in this case, the Kingsway and Queensway Mersey Tunnels which are used by approximately 30 million motorists every year.
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.”
Regarding the delivery of the project, Tom Sime, CEO of Exchange Communications added: “This was a complex project as we had short working windows during the tunnels planned timetable of night closures and engineering time to install seven and a half kilometers of cable over a six month period.
“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.”
As a leader in creating and installing Smart building and 5G technology, Exchange Communications has been responsible for creating some of the most connected public spaces in the country including shopping centres, hospitals, arenas, football stadiums, hotels and some of the UK’s key travel hubs.