Hytera upgrades communications for Makkah Metro to safeguard Hajj

Hytera has announced that its Hytera metro communication system, specially upgraded for the Makkah Metro, has been put into operation. The integrated and customised system has proven to be helpful in assisting the Makkah Metro to improve the operational efficiency during the busy Hajj season, which gathered more than 1 million pilgrims from around the world this year.

The Hajj attracts millions of people each year. The 18-kilometre Makkah Metro, which connects the holy sites of Arafat, Muzdalifah and Mina, is one of the main means of transportation for those pilgrims. Although the Makkah Metro is only open to the public during the annual Hajj, it is one of the busiest metro routes in the world during this period.

Given that the previous communication system had been running for almost 10 years and became inconvenient and costly to maintain, a replacement of the system was urgently needed. Drawing on its experience in the railway industry, Hytera proposed to the Saudi Railway Company an integrated solution that covered the manufacturing, delivery and installation of the communication system.

“As this year Saudi expected to welcome over 1 million people for the biggest Hajj pilgrimage since the outbreak of the pandemic, the challenge for the transportation system was huge,” said Stanley Song, Deputy General Manager, Hytera Overseas Sales Department. “To ensure a safe Hajj season for pilgrims taking the Makkah Metro, we decided to customise most of the equipment even under a tight schedule.”

The hardware, which includes five TETRA base stations and 34 TETRA onboard radios, as well as the combing system and antenna system, were all customised for the optimal performance of the overall system. The tailor-made onboard radios were engineered to connect with the public address systems to enable broadcasting to passengers’ cabins in case of emergencies.

In addition, during Hajj 2022, two engineers were assigned by Hytera to work in the operation control centre 24/7, consecutively, to guarantee safe and smooth running of the system.

Hytera’s involvement in the Hajj was not limited to the Metro. It also provided diversified services to the Ministry of Health, the Saudi Arabian Airlines at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi National Water Company and other organisations to ensure the success of the Hajj.