MOWGLY: Broadband Services on Aircraft, Trains and Vessels
MBI plays a central role in the European Project MOWGLY
The MOWGLY Project has developed a platform for providing broadband internet and intranet access to passengers on aircraft, trains and vessels. MOWGLY provides a solution for people who need to access the Internet at any time, in any place by providing connection services with a quality comparable to that of terrestrial networks, even while travelling.
The project has involved the solution of complex problems related to satellite broadband communication systems, such as the size and weight of the antennas, the full compatibility with terrestrial networks and connection continuity. Moreover, the management of the service quality has been optimised for a large number of passengers who can use the service for work or pleasure.
MBI's role
MBI has contributed to the network architecture of the whole system by developing the service centre, the centralised service access system and the on-board access devices. MBI's contribution to the MOWGLY Project has led to the creation of a suite of software components that meets some of the main requirements of the “collective mobile” system, in particular the service continuity on heterogeneous transport networks (satellite, UMTS, etc) as well as the adaptation of the service quality to the transport network and the connected users.
The Partners
MOWGLY is an Integrated Project (IP) of the European Union's 6th Framework Programme with a total budget of about 13 million Euro. It ended in March 2007 after the test phase, during which the system was successfully tested on large motor yachts, high-speed trains in Spain, as well as on test flights on the Airbus A320. The MOWGLY Consortium consists of 14 partners in 7 countries, including some of the most important European companies, such as Airbus, Thales Alenia Space France, Rockwell-Collins France, Alstom, as well as research agencies and companies specialised in research and development.