Narrowband  |   Broadband  |  2024-05-22

Huawei Partners with Shenyang Metro to Enhance Urban Rail Communications with LTE-M

Source: Huawei
Curated by: Gert Jan Wolf - Editor-in Chief for The Critical Communications Review

Shenyang Metro has significantly advanced its communications infrastructure by adopting Huawei's LTE-M solution. This collaboration aims to create a robust digital and intelligent foundation, continuously evolving train-to-ground communications technologies.

Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning Province, is a vital transportation hub in northeast China. In 2022, Shenyang invested heavily in developing a comprehensive urban rail transit network to enhance city connectivity and improve commuter experiences.

Since the inauguration of Shenyang Metro Line 1( Both Line 1 and Line 2 in Shenyang Metro use a TETRA system from Airbus for their critical communications) on September 27, 2010, the network has expanded to five lines, covering 165 kilometers and 122 stations. This network interlinks the city center with new developments and major hubs, providing citizens with convenient, safe, and economical transportation services.

LTE-M: Ensuring Stable Operations

To support its expanding metro lines, Shenyang Metro has upgraded its communications system from the conventional Wi-Fi + TETRA mode to LTE-M. Traditional urban rail communications faced challenges with interference, limited video data support, and high maintenance costs. LTE-M, based on 4G TDD-LTE, offers continuous, reliable, and secure communications, supporting CBTC, trunking dispatch, PIS, and CCTV services. It simplifies networking and maintenance while ensuring service reliability.

A New Era of Train-to-Ground Communications

Shenyang Metro Lines 9 and 10, operational since 2019 and 2020, utilize LTE-M for CBTC services, ensuring stable and smooth train operations. Drawing from this success, Shenyang Metro has deployed a single LTE-M network for Line 1, enhancing CBTC and trunking communications.

Key Advantages of LTE-M

  • Dedicated Frequency Band: The 1.8 GHz band avoids interference, ensuring stable high-speed train communications.
  • Enhanced Dispatch Efficiency: Upgraded to broadband trunking, LTE-M supports audio and multimedia communications, reducing core network complexity.
  • Cost and Maintenance Efficiency: With a 1.2 km coverage radius per base station, LTE-M reduces trackside devices by over 80%, lowering O&M costs and enhancing network stability.

Shenyang Metro's LTE-M network now supports CBTC and broadband trunking, providing a simplified, secure, and reliable train-to-ground communications system. This upgrade ensures safer and more efficient train operations, enhancing passenger travel experiences with fewer delays and interruptions.

Huawei and Shenyang Metro continue to innovate in train-to-ground communications, fostering the development of an integrated multi-tiered rail transport network. This partnership contributes to the construction of a comprehensive and efficient urban transportation system in Shenyang.

Shenyang Metro is the seventh operational subway system in Mainland China and the first in Northeast China.