Mumbai, India (Metro Rail Today): The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) has recently granted a contract for In-Building Solutions to provide telecom infrastructure for Metro Line 3, also known as the Colaba-Bandra-Seepz-Aarey underground metro corridor. The contract was awarded to ACES India Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Riyadh-based ACES Co., following a competitive bidding process. This development will ensure uninterrupted mobile and internet connectivity for commuters on the Aqua Line, as announced by MMRC.
Ashwini Bhide, Managing Director of MMRC, emphasized, "This initiative will ensure passengers enjoy uninterrupted mobile and internet connectivity during their commute on the underground Metro Line 3."
MMRC received assistance from AUCTUS-StudioPod in the Non-Fare box revenue bid process. MMRC Management expressed happiness in partnering with ACES, which aims to equip its longest underground Metro Line-3 with state-of-the-art 4G and 5G Mobile Infrastructure for an exclusive period of 9 years and will neutrally cater to 600 million passengers annually.
ACES will equip India's longest underground metro line with state-of-the-art mobile telecom infrastructure incorporating 4G and 5G technologies. This infrastructure will cover the entire 33.5-kilometer stretch, encompassing 27 stations, platforms, concourses, and tunnels. The objective is to provide the metro's estimated 1.6 million daily passengers with seamless coverage and enhanced mobile data speeds.
Dr. Akram Aburas, CEO of ACES, expressed his pride in being associated with this prestigious project. He explained ACES' future vision as an International Neutral Digital Infrastructure Company and confirmed that the contract aims to create a modern and intelligent environment for Metro passengers, travelers, and employees, ensuring a seamless high-speed mobile service experience.
ACES India has successfully implemented In-Building Solutions at prominent locations such as Bangalore Airport and the Surat Diamond Bourse, which is the world's largest building. The license fees generated per station for this project are reported to be approximately 2.5 times higher than those of any other metro line in India, according to a statement from MMRC.
The Mumbai Metro Line 3 operates entirely underground, with station concourses located 10-14 meters below ground and platforms at depths of 18-20 meters below ground level, establishing mobile network and internet connectivity presents a considerable challenge. To overcome this challenge and provide commuters with access to mobile and internet services during their journey, MMRC devised a plan to deploy cellular coverage from major mobile service providers like Jio, Vodafone, Airtel, and MTNL. This will be achieved through In-Building Solutions, involving the installation of antennas and repeaters within underground stations and tunnels.