How 5G is Changing Public Transportation

By Julie McDaniel
Vice President Marketing
March 7, 2025

Today’s public transportation passengers are demanding a better experience – whether it be seat availability insights, real-time route updates, contactless payments, personalized travel recommendations, or enhanced onboard Wi-Fi connectivity. Meeting these passenger expectations will improve ridership numbers and bring about the future of public transportation. Adopting 5G cellular broadband connectivity will play a critical role in the process.

5G Transit Technologies: Benefits

5G transit technologies refer to the application of wireless wide area networks (WWANs) within public transportation systems. These high-speed WWANs will enhance communication speeds, reduce latency, and increase the overall capacity and reliability of network connections.

They also open the door to multiple applications that will benefit public transportation entities, their employees, and their customers — here’s how.

Streamlined fare collection: 5G WANs facilitate the deployment of advanced fare collection systems that integrate near-field communication (NFC) and quick response (QR) code technologies. These systems allow passengers to access transit services using smartphones or smart wearables. This connectivity ensures that fare transactions are processed in milliseconds, reducing queues and enabling a more fluid movement of passengers.

Enhanced security: By leveraging 5G's ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC), public transportation systems can implement real-time monitoring via cameras to discourage theft, vandalism, and violent behavior. Facial recognition and behavior analysis technologies enhance security by promptly flagging suspicious activities or individuals while adhering to data privacy regulations through secure, high-speed data transmissions.

Optimized digital signage: Given 5G's capacity for greater data throughput and reduced latency, digital signage can display not only static information like schedules and maps, but also dynamic content such as live updates on service changes, weather alerts, or emergency announcements. Integrated predictive analytics provide anticipatory information to help passengers make informed decisions about their routes and reduce congestion during peak times or disruptions.

System and vehicle efficiency: Transit systems can use 5G networks to better manage their infrastructure and fleets. For infrastructure, advanced sensors can monitor external conditions, from weather to traffic flows to track quality. For vehicles, advanced sensors monitor everything from tire pressure and oil volume to the driver's performance. By analyzing vast amounts of data from these various sources in real time, transit authorities can forecast vehicle maintenance needs, optimize routes, and manage schedules more effectively.

A Next-Gen Transit Technology: Perle IRG7000 5G Routers

From advanced security protocols and failover capabilities to precise GPS tracking and efficient out-of-band management, Perle IRG7000 5G Routers are an ideal solution for 5G WAN connectivity and operational reliability in public transportation.

For providers looking ahead to the future of public transportation, Perle’s high-performance cellular 5G routers offer the following features:

1. Network management and configuration: Network managers can oversee and adjust settings remotely, facilitating the management of devices across extensive transportation networks.
2. Routing protocols and services: Perle IRG Routers support an extensive range of protocols, including RIP, OSPF, and BGP-4, to ensure easy deployment in any WAN infrastructure. They also incorporate VRRP (Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol), which enhances network stability by allowing router redundancy.
3. High availability and failover capabilities: Cellular tower connectivity can be established and maintained in trains at up to 100 meters per second (360km/224mi per hour).
4. Advanced encryption and VPN options: The routers offer encryption standards including 3DES and AES, along with VPN technologies like OpenVPN and IPsec to ensure secure data transmission.
5. Out-of-Band Management (OOBM): This feature provides a secure, dedicated alternative method for accessing and troubleshooting connected devices and assets for continuous operation.
6. Ultra-Low-Power: IRG Routers are designed to operate on limited power sources by consuming less than 1 Watt in idle mode. This makes them ideal for battery-powered transit applications. In addition, Standby Mode can be used to protect power sources by dropping power consumption to a target of 53 mW. This can be triggered by timers, low voltage detection, or I/O.

Perle IRG7000 5G Routers are a valuable tool for public transportation networks eager to improve their network management, enhance security, and ensure uninterrupted service without ongoing monthly or yearly licensing fees.