In addition to conventional consumer uses for mobile broadband, the connected bus stop will support functionality that is particularly useful for commuters. This could include screens that display real-time information about bus movements and touch-screens that provide access to interactive maps, local news, tourist information and advertising. A CCTV camera, panic button and push-to-talk functionality could be incorporated to increase security and make it easy for commuters to contact emergency services or the police.
In dense urban environments such as shopping, business, entertainment and financial districts, capacity is often stretched to the limit and many networks can’t consistently deliver high downlink speeds. The connected bus stop, an application of the Small Cell as a Service offering Ericsson launched in 2014, alleviates this problem by creating a separate small cell access network that is integrated with telecomms operators’ transmission networks. Ericsson provides the technology and associated services in a partnership with transport operators and local telecomms network operators.