Broadband  |  2024-07-01

Druid Software Participates in ETSI FRMCS Plugtest

Source: The Critical Communications Review | Gert Jan Wolf editor

The difference between a regular MCX Plugtest and the FRMCS plugtest is that at the FRMCS plugtest Druid integrates the application servers and applications specific for FRMCS purposes.

This week, Druid Software participate in ETSI’s 4th FRMCS plugtest at the ETSI Antibes Sophia Antipolis premises in France. ETSI is organising this event, with the support of the European Commission (EC), the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), the Critical Communications Association (TCCA) and the Union Internationale des Chemins de fer (UIC).

For Railway communications, mission critical communication is mandatory with running trains at speeds up to 500 km/h where ultra reliable real time track safety information, positioning, cabin information, train to train and train to command and control centres, need to be achieved with high speeds and low latency. This also includes roaming solutions between different countries and FRMCS networks.

At the plugtest, technical experts from Druid will integrate the Raemis™ 4G/5G core solution with different MCX AS (Mission Critical Application Servers) from partners in the industry. The MCX applications will be used for Mission Critical Voice, Video and Data communications. With the integration on the Raemis™ platform, the MCX application server can manage 5G network slicing to get dedication and the right prioritisation for all MCX services. 

The difference between a regular MCX Plugtest and the FRMCS plugtest is that at the FRMCS plugtest Druid integrates the application servers and applications specific for FRMCS purposes. FRMCS, the Future Railway Mobile Communication System is the European railway communication system that will replace GSM-R (2G) by 2035 has in relation to regular MCX services specific defined features by the UIC (International Union of Railways). Even in countries with other legacy railway communication standards there is interest to adopt the new FRMCS 5G standard in the future.

Druid Software, as TCCA member (The Critical Communication Association) has already a long track record in the area of mission critical communications and therefore is willing to participate to the MCX and FRMCS plugtest events.

The company underlines the importance of reliable mission critical communication in the different industries and especially in the Railway communication sector where the difference between good and bad communication can be a matter of life and death.