Reliable cellular connectivity is essential for modern public transport systems, particularly for the ticketing, tracking and communication devices used on buses.

MyCiTi was experiencing cellular connectivity issues at a bus terminal located beneath Cape Town’s Civic Centre. When buses entered and parked inside the terminal, the ticketing devices fitted to the vehicles struggled to maintain a reliable cellular connection.

The underground location, combined with the surrounding structure, created a challenging RF environment where the available cellular signal was weak and fluctuating.

During our initial testing at the bus parking areas, signal readings were recorded at approximately -115 dBm, indicating a very weak cellular signal.

The challenge was to bring a stronger, more reliable cellular signal into the terminal so that the devices operating inside the buses could maintain connectivity.

Following installation, Bolton Technical conducted signal testing throughout the bus parking area.

The improvement was significant.

Where initial readings had been around -115 dBm, post-installation testing recorded cellular signal readings as strong as -66 dBm at the bus stops.

The ticketing devices that had previously struggled to maintain connectivity were subsequently able to access a much stronger and more reliable cellular signal.

Signal Improvement

Before: Approximately -115 dBm

After: As strong as -66 dBm

Improvement: Approximately 49 dB

The result demonstrated how a correctly designed cellular signal booster system can overcome challenging RF environments and improve connectivity in areas where conventional cellular coverage is limited.

A Unique Cellular Connectivity Application

This project presented a particularly unusual application for cellular signal boosting.

While improving cellular coverage inside buildings, warehouses, offices and other structures is a common requirement, providing reliable cellular connectivity to ticketing and tracking equipment inside buses operating beneath a city building presented a different RF challenge. For public transport operators, cellular connectivity can play an important role in keeping connected devices operational and supporting day-to-day transport operations.

By identifying the available external signal, amplifying it and distributing it into the areas where connectivity was required, Bolton Technical was able to significantly improve cellular signal strength at the MyCiTi bus terminal.

From approximately -115 dBm to as strong as -66 dBm — a practical example of how engineered cellular signal boosting can solve connectivity challenges in complex environments.