3GPP Release 13 - a Firm Foundation for GSM-R
5G, which will emphasise the Internet of Things (IoT) and have the capacity to connect billions of devices and transfer gigabytes of data per second, may be beyond what railways realistically require from their communications architecture.
Work is underway to lay the framework for a new standardised railway telecommunications network to replace GSM-R beginning in 2021 or 2022. But a great deal of uncertainty persists over the technology that this new network will use and whether the railway sector is ready to replace its existing 2G networks.
While providers have committed to maintain GSM-R up to 2030, beyond this it will become increasingly difficult, and expensive, for infrastructure managers to retain the same quality of service.
Norman Frisch, Huawei’s business development manager for rail transport solutions: “The pressure is on Europe, and everyone is looking at what Europe is doing. If Europe comes up with a standard which allows the successful migration from GSM-R, it will be very important for railways outside Europe because of Europe’s experience of using and standardising GSM-R.” Frisch adds in the interview with Kevin Smith form Railjournal.com, that 4G LTE is more than capable of delivering what the rail sector will require from its next-generation communications network. And it is advantageous because the technology is already available.
Frisch also says that 3GPP Release 13, the current standard for 4G LTE, which was completed at the end of 2016 and provides the basis for hosting mission-critical applications, could offer a firm foundation for GSM-R migration.
