Deployment
What it actually takes, and what it does not
The first objection is always that this will end up as a construction project on a network that cannot stop. It will not, and this page explains exactly why.
What is not needed
- No civil works. No conduits, no new power, no mounting on platforms or in tunnels.
- No beacons or anchors in your infrastructure. Ranging is anchored to the access points already installed. The on-board layer, if added, fits beacons inside the carriages: rolling stock, not infrastructure.
- No tags. The officer carries their corporate phone and nothing else.
- No service interruption. No night-time works windows and no closures.
- No change of network vendor. Any FTM-capable access point works.
What is needed
| Element | Requirement | Provided by |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi access points | 802.11ac/ax with FTM enabled, stable clock and regulated power | Operator (with our support on configuration) |
| Terminals | Android 10 or later with FTM-capable chipset, battery ≥ 4,000 mAh | Operator, usually the ones already in service |
| Station backhaul | Secure path to the backend, with segmentation and QoS for telemetry | Operator |
| Station layouts | Topology of platforms, concourses and tunnels for map matching | Operator |
| Platform | Fusion server, portal and observability, in the cloud or the operator’s data centre | Metrosafe |
| App and configuration | Signed APK, configuration profiles and operating guide | Metrosafe |
| Carriage beacons (on-board layer only) | One per car, adhesive and battery-powered; fitted during a depot visit | Metrosafe, with access to the operator’s depot |
| Consist data (on-board layer only) | Mapping between car and train in service, so the train number can be published | Operator |
The critical point of the whole project is the first row of that table: how many of your access points can enable FTM. It is the first thing the survey looks at, and it determines which stations make it into the pilot.
The four phases of a pilot
A scoped pilot over one line or a set of stations takes between 8 and 16 weeks, depending on how many stations are included and how long the radio survey takes.
01 · Survey
Inventory of access points and a check of which ones support FTM. Per-station radio study: signal levels, shadow zones and multipath behaviour on platforms. Approval of the terminal models in the fleet. Output: a technical coverage map and the list of stations that are in. If the on-board layer is included, this is also where the classes of stock are chosen and the depot window is coordinated.
02 · Go live
Server and portal deployment, network profile configuration, app installation on terminals, and user and role provisioning. Telemetry, encryption and access control active from day one. With the on-board layer, beacons are fitted to the cars during a scheduled inspection: no work in traffic. Output: system in service and a deployment report.
03 · Measurement
Accuracy and latency campaigns per station, against acceptance criteria agreed in writing before the start. Calibration of each site’s own biases. Load testing with the real number of terminals. Output: a verification report with measured numbers, not estimates.
04 · Decision
Training for supervisors and operators, operating procedures and a results pack. Output: a report your committee can take straight into the procurement file, with metrics from your own network rather than someone else’s case study.
Acceptance criteria
Agreed in writing before the start, with numbers. That is what prevents the argument about whether the pilot worked.
- Mean accuracy in station
- 5-10 m
- Publication latency
- < 5 s
- Monthly availability
- ≥ 99.95 %
- Concurrent terminals
- ≥ 70 under nominal use
- Security audit
- no open critical findings
- Documentation
- test plan executed, procedures approved and replication guide closed
And then, replicate
The pilot produces a replication guide: sizing by network size, go-live procedures, an integration catalogue and minimum acceptance criteria for onboarding a new network. The second line costs a fraction of the first, and the third less still.
Shall we start with the survey?
With an inventory of your access points and the layout of two or three stations we can already tell you what to expect. It is the shortest and most useful conversation.
- +34 924 090 608
- [email protected]
- Campus Universitario, Avda. de la Investigación S/N, Edificio PCTEX, Oficina 2.1
06006 Badajoz