5G Powered Passenger Wi-Fi for Public Transport with Captive Portal Capabilities
A Robustel Application Example
Application Example – Fast Facts
Industry
Transportation, Smart Cities, Buses, Trams, Taxis, Shuttles, Trains
Product(s)
Robustel R5020 5G Router, RCMS, Wi-Fi Portal Manager
Challenges
Deliver reliable, branded onboard Wi-Fi at fleet scale while keeping data costs predictable and the operational network isolated
Expected Outcomes
A consistent passenger experience, clear controls on usage, and centralised operations with route- and vehicle-level insight
Enabling the next generation of elevator/lift technology
Public transport operators want Wi-Fi that feels effortless for riders and manageable for staff. The reality is moving vehicles, variable coverage, and budget pressure on data plans. A single misconfigured access point can trigger complaints, overages, o rin the worst case risk to operational systems if guest traffic is not segmented.
This deployment uses a 5G backhaul, a branded captive portal, and simple policy controls so the experience is consistent from depot to destination. It lets operations teams manage hundreds or thousands of vehicles from a single console, while IT maintains clear separation between guest internet and systems like ticketing or vehicle telemetry.
Business Challenges
Before the solution, operators faced a mix of technical and operational constraints. The aim was to improve rider experience without creating new support burden or security concerns.
- Inconsistent rider experience: Different SSIDs, portals, and limits by vehicle create confusion and complaints.
- Data cost control: Uncapped sessions or heavy users can exhaust monthly plans early.
- Operational network protection: Guest traffic must never touch ticketing systems, driver consoles, or CCTV.
- Multiple fleet types: Buses, trams, and shuttles need a common approach despite different hardware layouts.
- Support at scale: Field fixes are expensive; staff need remote visibility and standard playbooks.
Solution Overview
The project standardised on a 5G router per vehicle, a centrally managed captive portal, and fleet-wide policy templates. RCMS provides the inventory, alerts, and reporting needed to keep everything aligned as the fleet grows.
- 5G backhaul with fallback: The R5020 supplies primary connectivity over 5G and can fall back to LTE when coverage changes along a route.
- Branded captive portal: Wi-Fi Portal Manager presents a simple splash page, terms, and opt-in. Design and language are controlled centrally.
- Fair-use policy: Per-user bandwidth caps and session durations keep service responsive and help manage cost.
- Clean network separation: VLANs and firewall rules keep passenger Wi-Fi isolated from operational systems on the vehicle.
- Templates and groups: RCMS applies SSIDs, policies, and firmware by fleet, line, or contractor—so new vehicles inherit the right settings.
- Monitoring and alerting: Central dashboards surface offline vehicles, unusual data spikes, and signal issues before riders notice.
- Remote maintenance: Staff can push updates, rotate keys, or adjust limits without a depot visit.
Expected Customer Outcomes
What success looks like for the key stakeholders and the partners who help deliver the service.
- Operations leadership: Predictable data spend, fewer complaints, a consistent rider experience across all routes.
- Transit IT and security: Clear network segmentation, auditable changes, and central control of SSIDs, keys, and policies.
- Depot and maintenance teams: Fewer truck rolls; configuration and firmware handled over the air with standard templates.
- Marketing and customer experience: Branded portal, simple terms, and basic analytics on uptake by route and time of day.
- Systems integrators and MSPs: A repeatable build: enrol, apply template, verify, and hand over with clear reporting.
Featured Products
Robustel R5020 5G Router
RCMS Cloud Device Management
RCMS – Wi-Fi Portal Manager
Talk to an Expert
Planning a pilot or scaling an existing fleet? Let’s map the right mix of backhaul, policy, and operations for your routes.