Network Innovations provides solutions tailored to meet specialised, operations-focused customer needs. In this case, the goal was to ensure resilient and on-the-move connectivity for a UK police force and their fleet of CCTV-equipped vehicles.

The Challenge:

Public safety networks play a crucial role in ensuring effective communication and coordination for law enforcement agencies and emergency responders. To meet specific criteria, in-vehicle network infrastructures must be reliable, non-intrusive, and maintain a low-profile appearance.

A UK police force sought to upgrade its fleet of surveillance vans with reliable IP connectivity. Running around-the-clock observation video feeds, they required connectivity that could power the conversion and transmission of multiple streams.

Their existing solution, utilising bonded cellular, had over 5 seconds of streaming delay and could not support remote monitoring capabilities – meaning a qualified operator had to be present at all times. The main goals? Streamline video feed transmission to the control room, reduce delays for a near-live experience, and enable remote camera control. All essential requirements for effective situational awareness.

The Solution:

To explore different options, Network Innovations’ UK Government division was contacted. It was Peplink technology that struck the right chord.

Per vehicle, a Peplink MAX HD4 MBX 5G acts as the main router, pulling the best cellular connections using roof-mounted HD2 Dome antennas. A SIM injector ensures that the system uses the most reliable network available, while a Peplink Mini Access Point distributes internet throughout each vehicle – ensuring devices can connect seamlessly.

Together, these technologies ensure higher resiliency, ultra-fast speeds, and seamless Wi-Fi distribution. The capture, transfer, and management of video feeds are supported by failover capabilities, delivering improved network uptime.

🗨️ "Another factor in maintaining a consistent connection was the installation of a Starlink Flat-High Performance terminal on each vehicle. This ensures connectivity even in remote areas," says Luke Proctor, Sales Executive at Network Innovations US & UK Government. "This complete setup proved to be ideal for a fast-paced environment such as this, emulating a powerful mobile office for law enforcers to operate and run essential surveillance operations.”

Peplink MAX HD4 MBX 5G:

The Impact:

Working hand-in-hand with the police force, the Network Innovations team developed a solution to address clear operational issues. The mission-critical requirement for live video from the CCTV vehicles is now a reality. 

The impact in a nutshell:

• Uninterrupted Operations: The connection of multiple devices streamlines communication throughout the entire operation. Starlink helps fill the gaps in areas lacking coverage.
• Streamlined Control: The control of each camera can be done remotely. In case of an emergency, vehicles can be left unattended while maintaining the camera position.
• Reduced Delays: Utilising multiple WAN connections through Peplink SpeedFusion ensures a single, jitter-free data stream – improving critical streaming and transfers to the control room.
• Network Monitoring: Remote diagnostics of the Peplink equipment via InControl 2 provides enhanced fault detection and resolution.

For personnel and responders working in critical scenarios, their attention must be fixed on the task at hand. With enhanced access to more connections, the in-vehicle teams are saving time and manpower while experiencing improved operational stability and uninterrupted data reporting.