Press Releases 2022-09-02
August 16, 2022
Icomera has been selected to upgrade SunRail's digital system in Florida
August 16, 2022, BETHESDA, UNITED STATES – Eq France, through its subsidiary Icomera, has been selected by SunRail, the Central Florida commuter rail service, to upgrade its onboard technologies as part of its digital transformation, using an integrated approach to connectivity.
SunRail is a commuter rail line nearly 100 kilometers (61 miles) long, owned and operated by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), serving Orange, Osceola, Seminole, and Volusia counties.
As SunRail’s partner for end-to-end solutions, Icomera will replace the existing Wi-Fi system with state-of-the-art technology on board twenty-two cars (taxis and coaches). Ensuring connectivity, investment, and productivity for passengers during their trips is one of the primary missions of SunRail and Icomera in the areas of green mobility and improving the passenger experience.
Passenger Experience
Once on board, users will be able to connect their devices to the Wi-Fi network (SSID) and will receive immediate access to a localized captive portal. They will thus enjoy a seamless online experience thanks to Icomera’s proprietary network communication protocol, SureWAN™, which intelligently and simultaneously connects an onboard router to multiple cellular networks and other communication networks to optimize capacity, coverage, availability, and data redundancy.
“Given the population growth in Central Florida, the availability of a high-quality Wi-Fi network on the SunRail fleet will offer travelers more choices in terms of travel schedules and work locations, in line with the growing trend toward remote work ,” says Gabriel J. Lopez-Bernal. “If a passenger’s commute can contribute to their workday—rather than disrupt it—then public transit will become a preferred and more efficient mode of transportation.”
Consolidation of Embedded Systems
In addition to Wi-Fi for passengers, onboard systems will be consolidated to reduce infrastructure and minimize the number of suppliers.
Icomera will support the team in all its objectives: from the design of the onboard architecture to delivery, including five years of post-installation support. Icomera’s X-Series mobile access and application router was selected as the central connectivity platform because it is capable of providing managed Wi-Fi access to passengers while also serving as a host for virtual applications for other onboard systems.
Efficiency Partnership
Agencies in Florida continue to explore new opportunities to expand connectivity in the region and take advantage of new partnerships: This is certainly the case with Insight Public Sector (Insight). Insight is both a leading provider of IT solutions for government and a group purchasing organization.
This digital transformation initiative arose from a partnership between Insight, the FDOT, and Icomera, enabling SunRail to focus on achieving its operational efficiency goals and streamlining its procurement process. In 2020, Icomera partnered with Insight to better serve public sector clients nationwide, stabilize and ensure the best prices, and address the unique challenges associated with resource and budget constraints.