14 April 2025
The Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway is a transformative initiative aimed at modernizing transportation in Vietnam’s busiest metropolis. At the heart of this ambitious project is Metro Line 1, a 19.7km rapid transit line featuring 2.6km of underground tracks and 17.1km of elevated rail. Construction began in 2012, and the line was opened in December 2024. Designed to integrate urban communities and support economic growth, Metro Line 1 is set to revolutionize mobility in Ho Chi Minh City. However, ensuring seamless network coverage posed a significant challenge.
As construction progressed, a critical issue emerged: the lack of adequate network coverage across the metro line. Without a robust connectivity solution, passengers would face disrupted communication, unreliable mobile transactions, and limited access to digital services, exacerbating the digital divide among commuters. Additionally, reliable network infrastructure was essential for operational efficiency, from real-time monitoring and security systems to automated ticketing and passenger information services. The challenge was to design a high-performance, multi-operator solution capable of handling high passenger density, diverse frequency bands, and the complex urban landscape.
Deploying the EPIC DAS System
To address these challenges, Enhanced PROSE Integrated Coverage Distributed Antenna System (EPIC DAS) was deployed, offering an innovative and scalable solution tailored to the metro’s infrastructure. Designed to support a comprehensive range of frequencies — including UMTS2100, LTE1800, and LTE2300 — EPIC DAS provided uninterrupted 2G, 3G, and 4G connectivity throughout the metro system.
The first phase of implementation introduced Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) technology for 1800MHz, 2100MHz, and 2300MHz bands, allowing for increased network capacity while mitigating congestion. Three of the country’s leading mobile network operators collaborated on the deployment, ensuring multi-operator compatibility and seamless service integration.
A carefully planned hardware configuration was executed, consisting of 12 Central Units (CU), 12 IM2U Modules, 21 Network Expansion Units (NEU), 132 Intermediate Remote Units (IRU), and 14 High-Power Remote Units (HPRU). These components worked in unison to create a high-density, low-latency network architecture optimized for metro transit environments.
A high-performance, future-ready network
The integration of EPIC DAS into Metro Line 1 exceeded key performance expectations, transforming the metro system into a model of seamless connectivity. Network coverage was significantly enhanced, eliminating previous signal dropouts and ensuring a consistent user experience for passengers. The synchronized operation of multiple frequency bands across different generations of mobile technology (2G, 3G, 4G) resulted in improved coverage and capacity, creating a harmonized multi-operator ecosystem.
Low-latency data transmission and high-output power reinforced network stability, allowing passengers to access mobile services with unprecedented reliability. The system’s compact and energy-efficient design, incorporating natural cooling mechanisms, contributed to sustainable power consumption, aligning with modern energy efficiency standards.
Performance enhancements were evident in uplink signal amplification, expanded cell coverage, and improved network quality, all of which played a vital role in elevating passenger satisfaction. Additionally, the streamlined deployment of EPIC DAS minimized field-testing requirements while providing autonomous remote unit power management, making ongoing maintenance more cost-effective.
The deployment of EPIC DAS on Metro Line 1 represents a significant leap forward in urban network infrastructure. By addressing critical connectivity challenges, the system has redefined the digital experience for both residents and travellers, fostering a more inclusive and technologically integrated transit environment.
