Mobile Phone Coverage Now Available in the EuroTunnel

Published on: 25th Jul 2012

­Mobile phones have started working in the tunnel that runs underneath the English Channel, linking the UK with France.

France Telecom-Orange was a major project contributor, alongside Eurotunnel, Alcatel-Lucent and other French operators. The new service, included in Orange's offers in France, will allow customers to use their mobile devices from 100 metres beneath the sea for the entire duration of the Calais to Folkestone crossing (about 30 minutes over a distance of 53 kilometres).

"We are proud to have taken part in a project as ambitious as this, both in terms of schedule and in terms of the conditions for its execution as well as the technological challenges to be met. For the network to be up and running at the same time as the 2012 Olympic Games required great commitment by Orange's technical teams," commented Jean-Luc Vuillemin, Technical Director, Networks and Services.

A national and regional project team of some 50 associates with regulatory, legal and technical backgrounds -- radio engineers, transmission experts and radio frequency specialists -- led by a national coordinator was quickly formed within the Group to turn this technological feat into reality within only 10 months.

A special regulatory framework had to be set up for this first-of-a-kind project with the agreement of both French (Arcep and ANFR) and British (Ofcom) regulators.

From a technical standpoint, the solution adopted by all of the parties involved the deployment of a broadcast cable the entire length of South tunnel (France to England leg) and the installation of 72 optical repeaters by Alcatel-Lucent. To operate this system, Orange's role was to deploy a 2G/3G base station on either end of the tunnel, one at the French entrance and the other at the English exit (once again requiring special permits from the British administration).

Detailed studies and a certain number of adaptations were required to connect the base stations to the "terrestrial" network for voice and data routing. For example, a specific transmission collection set-up was developed and the base stations required a particular design and parameterization. In addition, the maintenance teams received special training to guarantee network and service quality for this atypical installation.

The UK to France tunnel will receive in-tunnel coverage shortly.

 

Tags: [eurotunnel]  [orange]  [UK]  [France]