Modern cities are like living organisms. Pulsing with light and commotion, constantly assimilating and expanding, spawning new settlements and smaller suburban areas to repeat the cycle. While the buildings could be considered bones and muscles, the communication routes and public transportation systems are definitely arteries that keep the organism alive. In order to make sure that the entire system operates perfectly and to prepare it for the challenges to come, Brussels Metro decided to deploy autonomous network solutions from Extreme Networks.
The metro system in Brussels is the lifeblood of the city. Without it, public life would grind to a standstill. Over the years, the metro lines have gradually reached the limits of what they can achieve in terms of capacity, efficiency and operability. This has brought us dangerously close to not being able to keep up with demand anymore.
Pierre-André Rulmont, VP, Information Systems, Brussels Intercommunal Transport Company
A Mission-Critical Network Solution
A shared vision
A flexible, resilient and self-driving network is the foundation upon which the smart city of the future will be built on. We have worked with Brussels Metro to put a network in place that doesn’t just help resolve its current challenges by driving efficiencies and increasing capacity, but it also lays the groundwork for the metro system to meet the demands of the smart city of the future.
John Morrison, SVP EMEA, Extreme Networks
Choosing the right solutions
- Real Automated Control of Network Traffic – Extreme Management Center software provides a path to real-time automated control of the network, end-to-end. By utilising automation to offload routine tasks traditionally carried out manually, STIB is empowered to unlock efficiencies in the organisation’s day-to-day operations, increasing current and future capacity across the Brussels Metro environment.
- Extensive IP-based Video Surveillance Network – Nearly 15,000 high-definition, IP-based video surveillance cameras are now supported by the network, keeping passengers and staff on the transit system safe and secure. Making use of Extreme’s Fabric Connect network virtualisation technology, STIB now has the flexibility to quickly and easily provision additional services where needed for optimal efficiency.
- Manual and Automated Management of the Transit System – Integrating manual and automated management of the transit system was key to achieving increased passenger capacity. Optimising system availability, incorporating system and service resilience, and enhancing network visibility enables STIB to maintain critical human oversight and minimise the potential for human error. With a sub-second failover of links and/or associated switching systems, Extreme Fabric Connect also gives Brussels Metro a far more robust and resilient network than competitive alternatives.
- Unrivalled Networking Simplicity – By eliminating traditional PIM layered protocol stacks and replacing them with a simplified ISIS routing / IGMP snooping combination, Extreme Fabric Connect Multicast is simple to implement and operate, less error prone and fast to converge when adverse network conditions occur. With it, STIB benefits from the optimum blend of network reliability, efficiency and ease of use.
Addressing the present, preparing for the future
We needed a new mission critical network solution that would help us identify new efficiencies and automate manual processes. In Extreme Networks, we found a trusted and reliable partner that has helped us turn tomorrow's vision of a smart, automated and efficient metro network into a reality today.
Pierre-André Rulmont, VP, Information Systems, Brussels Intercommunal Transport Company