Antennas from South African wireless technology company Poynting Antennas are being used in the world’s longest and deepest train tunnel – the Gotthard Base Tunnel – which runs through the Swiss Alps mountain range.
The antennas are used to ensure a seamless digital communication service underground over a route length of more than 57 km.
The R130-billion rail project was completed recently and consists of two single-track tunnels connecting Switzerland with Italy as part of the so-called New Railway Link through the Alps.
Poynting South Africa CEO Michael Howard says it is noteworthy that a South African company was chosen as the preferred antenna supplier for this “colossal project”, and for the pan- European project team to choose Poynting Antennas’ XPOL 2 v2 product as part of their “highly sophisticated” communications network in the tunnel is significant.
The XPOL 2 v2 antenna is 4G/LTE and 2G/3G compatible, and can also operate over a wide frequency range that caters for the requirements of the many network operators in different countries. He notes that many competitors’ products have either 4G/LTE or 2G/3G network compatibility.
Poynting Antennas has developed its wireless solution specifically for tunnels and mining operations. These antennas operate in hazardous mining environments and tunnels where performance and safety are necessary.
With up to 250 trains a day passing through the tunnel at up to 200 km/h, engineers and tunnel operators require a seamless and uninterrupted communications service to manage the traffic.