Surveillance Boats Sail Past Dropouts with Peplink

Reliable connectivity onboard the surveillance boats was critical for internet access, real-time communication with headquarters, and emergency responses. However, patrolling Amsterdam’s canals posed significant challenges as the boats frequently moved below ground level, obstructing the line of sight between the transmitter and receiver onboard. Previously, basic cellular-enabled phones were used, but frequent signal dropouts and dead zones limited operational efficiency and reliability.

Network Innovations, in collaboration with Peplink’s European distributor Frontier EU, deployed HD2 MBX 5G router and Mobility antennas on the surveillance boats. All devices were configured via InControl, enabling seamless fleet monitoring and management. The strategic placement of routers and antennas optimized signal reception on each vessel.

The HD2 MBX 5G’s dual cellular capabilities allowed connections to multiple carriers, while the Mobility antennas boosted signal reception, ensuring redundancy and access to the strongest available 5G or LTE signals, even in obstructed areas. Combined with SpeedFusion technology, connections could be bonded for increased bandwidth or instantly failover to active links, ensuring uninterrupted communication.

While some surveillance boats were still under construction, Network Innovations collaborated closely with engineers to ensure a smooth installation of the Peplink devices. The InControl platform made scaling the solution easy, allowing the Municipality of Amsterdam to save manpower while maintaining visibility of network and vessel status.

The new connectivity solutions improved the operational stability and effectiveness of Amsterdam’s mobile surveillance system. With enhanced access to multiple connections, the surveillance boats can monitor and report data without interruptions, while the onboard crew confidently communicates with headquarters.