A new communication system based on 5G will revolutionise the use and management of the European rail network from 2035. Axians is positioned to be a key stakeholder, in the role of impartial integrator, in this new ecosystem.
From 2035, the European Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS-5G) will replace the Global System for Mobile Communications-Railway (GSM-R 2G), which has been in service for more than 20 years. Together with the European Train Control System for signalling, it will be an essential component of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) created to modernise the network and facilitate traffic interoperability.
Currently in the prototype phase, the FRMCS will capitalise on 5G technology to allow smarter, safer and faster operations. “The FRMCS embodies the future of rail by facilitating communication between moving trains,” explains Francesco Abbascià, International Business Development Manager at Axians. “It’s a complete ecosystem incorporating on-board software solutions and everything you need for the railways of the future.”
2035 target
The VINCI Energies ICT brand is positioned to be a key stakeholder in this new ecosystem. The project is both huge (the current GSM‑R covers 130,000 kilometres in Europe) and urgent, says the Axians expert: “The GSM‑R will be completely scrapped from 2035 onward, meaning that any equipment using this standard will no longer be supported. The loss of connection in remote areas is a critical issue for signalling between trains and control centres. It is therefore essential to ensure that everything operates reliably.”
“The FRMCS embodies the future of rail”
The intention is to introduce a transition period between 2030 and 2035, during which both systems will operate. The FRMCS standard currently being defined is unlikely to be the final version.
Technical and financial challenges
Development of the FRMCS faces two kinds of challenges: technical and financial. “From a technical point of view, implementing the FRMCS requires greater bandwidth, improved capacities, additional services, and new equipment and infrastructure,” explains Francesco Abbascià.
“But these new services come at a cost. The shared public and private-sector investment model seems to be a promising avenue for financing this transition,” he says, adding that Axians has all the assets to position itself as an impartial integrator in cases like this.
With the GSM-R, a single supplier can provide antennas, base stations, connectivity, etc. “With the FRMCS, which is far more software-based, it is possible to use equipment from different suppliers. You therefore need to master numerous new areas of expertise, such as cloud computing, data centres, IP networks, MPLS [multiprotocol label switching] and advanced computing.”
New services, new functionalities
The Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS-5G) considerably expands the range of services and functionality available. This new standard promises to deliver optimised connectivity for passengers, real-time video surveillance, more exact geolocation of trains, and predictive maintenance, by gathering and analysing data in real time. The system also incorporates robust cybersecurity features, which help mitigate the risks associated with cyber threats and safeguard essential rail infrastructure. “This system will offer smarter, safer and faster travel,” says Francesco Abbascià, International Business Development Manager at Axians.
12/12/2024
