Airport Railroad Express (AREX), a commuter railway connecting South Korea’s international airports to its capital city, chose Juniper Networks’ solutions for its upgrade to a modern all-IP based communications network.
AREX is South Korea’s first domestic railway to feature an all-IP based communications network that integrates wired and wireless networks, enabling efficient network deployment as well as strengthened security and stability through MPLS VPN.
Initially launched as a link between Incheon International Airport (ICN) and Gimpo International Airport, AREX was expanded directly to Seoul Station in the capital in 2010 and has been providing connectivity for travellers ever since. With ICN’s continued growth, AREX was looking to further strengthen the railway’s operational efficiency and to keep up with its growing network infrastructure needs.
A major priority was the upgrade of its communication network which plays a vital role in ensuring uninterrupted data transmissions to the railway’s numerous technological systems. This includes systems across signalling, supervisory control and data acquisition, video surveillance and wired/wireless networks.
Juniper Networks was selected to build out a modern IP/MPLS communications network using AI-driven solutions – improving the stability of AREX’s mission-critical systems while supporting the delivery of reliable train services.
The MX960 Universal Routing Platform, alongside the EX9208, EX4600 and EX3400 series of Ethernet Switches, are deployed at the networking control office in AREX’s transmission facility.
AREX has also introduced an integrated operations management system that unifies communication protocols and facility maintenance systems, improving efficiency across operations and fault management.
AREX can now continuously improve the overall commuting experience with the additional flexibility to expand their IoT infrastructure with extra bandwidth and redundancy.
“A modernised railway communication network has a direct impact on the well-being of commuters and plays a vital role in maintaining operational efficiency and safety,” said Ki Byung Chai, country manager for Korea at Juniper Networks.
