The modern world almost cannot do without a constant connection to the Internet. This applies to both rest and the work process, and for the Russian capital - also to the way home or to work. And, despite the fact that a few years ago the question of how to connect Wi-Fi in the Moscow metro did not even arise, now it is quite natural. Now you can answer it positively - Muscovites and guests of the city, going down underground, can stay online. However, this requires knowing how to properly connect and when to use the wireless network.
The principle of the Internet in the subway
To solve the problem of how to connect Wi-Fi in the metro, the developers were given a difficult task - to provide wireless connectivity both at metro stations and in tunnels. To do this, at first it was supposed to install access points only at stopping points and strengthensignal to such a level that they penetrate along the entire system. However, such a powerful wireless network could have a negative impact on the he alth of passengers. And the second option - access points along the tunnels every 100–200 m - would lead to the need for periodic reconnection to the network. During one trip, you would have to set up a connection with your mobile device at almost every station.
The search for a suitable engineering solution resulted in a modern version of a wireless network that provides GSM / UMTS communication. Radiating cables are stretched along the tunnels, along which antennas are installed for receiving a cellular signal. Subway trains, using their receivers, connect to the network, making it possible for passengers to use it as well. The signal is transmitted to the cars thanks to internal routers that distribute Wi-Fi.
Starting Wi-Fi in the Moscow Metro
The decision to provide passengers with a convenient way to connect Wi-Fi to the phone in the subway was made several years ago. And work on the project began on September 1, 2013. Their result was a unique system that has practically no analogues in other cities, not only in Russia, but also in the world. Metro stations with Internet access are common - but Wi-Fi in moving cars continues to be rare. The reason for this is the great depth of the tunnels, which does not allow catching a signal from the surface.
In the Moscow metro, passengers got the opportunity to connect towireless network throughout the journey, as the router is located inside the train. And at first, the user was not even required to identify. And everyone could get free access, even without watching ads.
International Award
The Wi-Fi network of the metropolitan metro has received recognition not only from its users, but also from the international expert community. In 2015, the program, whose task was to solve the problem of how to connect Wi-Fi in the Moscow metro, won an award at the international competition Industry Awards in the USA.
For the successful completion of a challenging task, an independent jury recognized the system, which is used by more than 2.5 million people daily (with a total number of passengers, according to data for 2014, about 10 million per day), as the best project in the field of wireless networks in urban areas. The founders of the event also noted the innovative technologies used to create the wireless network, and the new approach to monetization by Maxima Telecom, and the provision of a sufficiently high-quality service.
Connection rules
Before connecting Wi-Fi in the subway ("Android" or another operating system - it doesn't matter) for the first time, the user is required to:
- Find MosMetro_Free in the list of available connections.
- Open mobile device browser.
- Enter the address of any site and go to it.
- In the window that appears on the screen, click on the "Login to the Internet" button.
- Authorize in the system by entering your phone number and getSMS with code.
After that, you should wait for the transition to the vmet.ro portal and start using the network. For subsequent connections, the passenger simply needs to open a browser and click on the connect button. After that, the gadget automatically connects to the Internet and continues to remain online until the passenger leaves the car.
Network quality
The ever-increasing number of commuters who first learned how to connect Wi-Fi to their tablet, phone, or laptop on the subway and then use the network for work or play has led to a drop in bandwidth. And as communication quality studies show, it sometimes takes more than 1000 ms to send one data packet - while this indicator is normally 500 milliseconds. And according to feedback from network users in the subway, 4 out of 5 people have problems with the quality of access.
At the same time, representatives of the ISP that provides Internet access on subway trains, Maxima Telecom, argue that the seriousness of the problem is exaggerated. And the total bandwidth of the underground network has increased to 20 GB / s - with a daily traffic volume of up to 50-70 TB. Moreover, to improve access, the operator offers special premium packages - paid, but allowing you to turn off ads, increase the speed of your Internet experience and automatically connect to the network.
In addition, Maxima Telecom checks the qualitynetwork operation using a special system "Traffic light". The interactive metro map, visible to the provider's technical support staff, shows in green areas with good access, in yellow - places where there are problems. Complete lack of communication is marked in red. The project allows the provider's services to quickly respond to problems and quickly fix them.
Underground Internet Problems
Despite the fact that the principle of operation of the wireless network scheme in the metro looked quite simple, the implementation of the project required serious financial investments - up to 2 billion rubles. Due to the fact that the power grid in the trains is non-standard (75V), and conventional equipment requires either 220V or 9V, special equipment had to be purchased to set up the system. The maintenance of the system is also expensive. At the same time, the possibility of free access could lead to the fact that there would be people at the stations who only need the Internet, and not metro services.
Given that the metropolitan metro is quite busy and without those who want to get into the network without paying for traffic, the provider has limited Wi-Fi services. And now the way to connect Wi-Fi in the Moscow metro is available only for passengers inside the train. Outside, at the stations, the network cannot be entered.
Pay or be offline
After connecting Wi-Fi in the Moscow metro became as easy as in a number of other places in the capital offering free access to the network, the provider decided to block the Internet for some passengers. All users of mobile devices with installed ad blocking programs, when they try to enter the browser, receive a message with a suggestion to either disable the “blocker” or connect a paid package that gets rid of both ads and authorization.
Representatives of "Maxima Telecom" report that access to Wi-Fi users in the subway, which millions of people now know how to connect, is limited only when using ad-blocking programs. In other cases, you can connect to the network without problems. At the same time, many passengers report blocking the network even in the absence of applications not recommended by the provider.
End free Wi-Fi
One of the ways to get rid of operator messages is a paid subscription. Having paid only 50 rubles, the user connects to the “Like at home” service. This ensures that there are no ads for the next calendar month.
The transition to the provision of network services only when advertising is shown to passengers is quite understandable - the operator earns money. But such restrictions create inconvenience for users who do not want to pay for the Internet, especially when the need to use it is quite rare. Therefore, recommendations have already appeared on the network on how to connect Wi-Fi in the metro (Moscow) both for free and without advertising.
Features of using underground Wi-Fi
Despite attempts by the Maxim Telecom provider to remove the possibility of usingWi-Fi in the subway without watching commercials (sometimes annoying passengers), users have already found a way out. But since in the subway you can connect Wi-Fi to a laptop, smartphone or tablet only after receiving an advertisement on the screen, to remove it you need:
- Click on the video that appears.
- In the process of going to the advertiser's website (approximately 3-4 seconds), close the window and continue using the network.
- The same should be done when an offer from the operator appears on the screen - click on the picture, go to the metro website and quickly close it.
However, if the ad is not clicked, the method does not work. However, most often it helps to save a few minutes that could be spent watching the video. And in cases where access is hindered by a message box from the provider, quickly clicking on the link and disconnecting may be the only way to use the network without connecting the “Like at home” service.
