photo: Riyadh metro/A Czech company won a tender for the world's most modern metro digitalization
Five years ago, Saudi Vision 2030 was created to transform Saudi Arabia into a modern technological country without dependence on the oil industry. The Riyadh Metro is an essential part of the overall vision. The capital is to become the tourist center of the Arab world. In December, the test operation of six metro lines with a total length of 176 kilometers was launched. A total of 85 stations and 183 train sets are planned. Several top international companies such as Siemens, Alstom, and Bombardier are involved in the project. The new transport system is one of the most advanced in the world. The trains are equipped with autonomous systems and technologies. The Czech company Passengera is responsible for the digital monetization systems, the management and monitoring system, and the overall internet connectivity with Wi-Fi for passengers
"Passengera was selected to provide the complete passenger Wi-Fi system and monetization solution, from the design to our software implementation that makes the entire ecosystem work. The project included, among other things, the communication infrastructure design, the Wi-Fi installation in several different types of trains and also in metro stations, the signal quality and coverage measurement, and a solution for seamless user authentication. Our ten-year contract also includes a management and monitoring suite (MMS), which enables the metro operator to monitor and manage all 1,100 installed devices in real-time," commented Jan Kolář, CEO of Passengera for Riyadh Metro.
One of Passengera's most difficult tasks is to ensure the integration of all systems between different components from different manufacturers. "Such a large project comes with some challenges. The biggest was the limited ability to travel due to the pandemic, so we had to deliver much of our solution remotely. Another huge challenge was integrating our system and putting it into operation across vehicles of different specifications from different manufacturers. The operation of the communication infrastructure in relatively high temperatures also has its specifics. But we are used to similar challenges, for example, from installing our solution in the highest railway line in Europe, where we had to deal with the opposite temperature extreme. We were able to successfully implement the project without any problems," says Kolář.
The resulting Passengera project rests on three pillars: a connectivity solution, an MMS system, and a monetization platform. From the operator's point of view, the last part, monetization, is crucial. It will generate additional revenue through advertising and publicity.
"We think the Riyadh Metro is a great example of what mobility could look like shortly. Digital and efficient, making public transport an attractive choice by building a positive relationship with passengers. We are incredibly pleased that this groundbreaking project relied on our solutions from the Czech Republic. Its implementation in Riyadh's transport system has been our top priority in recent years. We are already preparing for more projects. We now have orders worth up to USD 10 million in our backlog, and this number will grow even more in the coming year. Because of this, we will be significantly expanding our team in the future, especially the development team," said Jan Kolář.
Passengera is a Czech technology company that designs and implements complex digital solutions for trains, buses, and other means of public transport across the world. The company was founded under the auspices of Czech technology giant Simac Technik six years ago. It is headquartered in Prague, but its branches can also be found in the USA and the United Arab Emirates. Today, the company ranks among the world's leaders. In the Czech Republic, its services can be seen, for example, in the Pendolinos of Czech Railways or onboard Flixbus.