Hong Kong's Rail Network Gets Improved Cellular Coverage

Andrew Corporation says that it has completed the design and installation of a commercial communications system for Hong Kong's Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation's (KCRC's) new West Rail line. The Andrew-supplied distributed communications equipment carries the RF signal along the entire line, including tunnels and stations. As a result, commuters traveling on the new 30.5 km (19 mile) Nam Cheong to Tuen Mun line experience uninterrupted calls on their mobile phones.

Andrew supplied and installed EOCell fiber optic distribution equipment, RADIAX radiating cables, and HELIAX coaxial cables and connectors to boost coverage in the West Rail line's nine stations and along part of the track. Amplifiers, installed in the tunnels, provide total coverage for mobile phones and other wireless devices.

"This contract completion is a great endorsement of the quality our products and service," said Vick Mamlouk, Andrew Corporation's director of business development, distributed communications systems. "It also emphasizes our excellent relationship with Hong Kong's world-class rail service providers."

With cellular market penetration of 93%, Hong Kong has more than six million mobile phone users - many are regular railway commuters. As a daily average, 817,790 passenger trips are made on the KCRC's East Rail service, and approximately 313,600 passengers use its Light Rail service.

The Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation is a public company charged with the task of operating and developing domestic, cross-boundary and intercity railway services in a commercial manner. KCRC operates two domestic passenger rail services. East Rail operates suburban mass transit services between Hung Hom and the boundary at Lo Wu. Light Rail provides passenger services for the fast-developing North West New Territories. East Rail also operates intercity passenger services to Guangzhou on its own train and provides access for other intercity trains running to and from Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Beijing."

Posted to the site on 11th August 2003