Sepura and Siemens to 'Change the Face' of Railway Communications
Teltronic, part of the Sepura Group, has successfully completed integration of its TETRA solution with Siemens’ European Train Control System (ETCS Level 2) application, officially certifying the viability of TETRA for railway signalling solutions.
Extensive tests performed at Siemens facilities in Berlin showed that TETRA met all QoS parameters outlined in the EIRENE specifications (Subset 093), relating to railway communications.
The integrated solution – which utilises Sepura’s NEBULA infrastructure and EN50155 onboard equipment – will provide a cost-effective alternative for operators utilising long-distance communications networks to control ETCS-enabled trains.
ETCS is fast becoming the world standard for main line train control. However, in areas where long distances need to be covered – such as Australia, South America, Africa and East Europe or among mining and freight transport lines – it can be costly to deploy.
TETRA offers both voice and signalling data services over a single infrastructure – allowing transport operators to tackle their daily operational challenges with a secure, cost-effective solution, as well as providing cost savings due to spectral efficiency and the operational frequency bands used.
Main lines can also benefit from TETRA technology: in Finland, a major initiative to migrate the existing GSM-R system for ETCS Level 1 signalling to the Government's national TETRA network is already underway – meeting the current need for voice communication and anticipating the need for data that migration to ETCS Level 2 will bring.
"This integration paves the way for TETRA to offer the railway transportation sector secure, efficient and cost-effective communications systems, even across significant distances,” said Felipe Sanjuan Pasamar, Sepura’s Business Development Director for Transport.
“It also continues our long-term cooperation with Siemens – begun with our Master Agreement, signed in 2011, and proven over projects such as Mozambique’s Moatize-Nacala Corridor; Warsaw Metro, Poland; and Monterrey Metro, Mexico.
“This ongoing collaboration can now help to reduce costs and increase choice for operators of long-distance communications networks.”
