INWIT and M4 Milan: together for the metro of tomorrow
Milan, 10 March 2021 – INWIT, the leading Italian towers company, and M4 SpA, concessionaire for the design, construction and management of the new Line 4 of Milan’s metro network, have signed an agreement for the development of mobile connectivity in the new Linate – Forlanini section.
INWIT’s DAS (Distributed Antenna System) will optimise mobile signal reception for the various operators in the M4’s stations and tunnels, ensuring excellent mobile service for the estimated 86 million passengers per year expected to travel to and from Linate airport.
The work will begin with coverage of the initial section of the line, and will continue alongside the construction of the metro. The installation of the DAS infrastructure, which will cover a total of 15 km, is expected to be completed in the first six months of 2021.
The DAS infrastructure will immediately improve current technologies and prepare the Linate-Forlanini line for the installation of fifth-generation technology as soon as it opens, making it the first 5G-ready metro in Europe.
The M4 line will also feature a dedicated micro-coverage network which will improve signal reception capacity for the various operators within the line, ensuring that passengers can use their smartphones, tablets and PCs quickly and efficiently.
The micro-antennas INWIT will be installing are very small and easily adapt to any environment. Moreover, INWIT’S DAS have very low electromagnetic emission, to the extent that their use is also spreading to the country’s main hospitals and healthcare facilities. The signal ensured is stable and effective and allows optimal use of all wireless devices.
“We are proud of this further step forwards INWIT has taken in the name of innovation,” said Giovanni Ferigo, CEO of INWIT. “This agreement with M4 represents a big step towards the future, in line with our 2021-2023 Strategic Plan. Thus continues our commitment towards enabling digital infrastructure in Italy to support mobile operators. With INWIT’s DAS infrastructure, the M4 will become Europe’s first 5G-ready metro.”