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Railway Communications

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Railway Communications
Introduction Our Role & Activities Standards Harmonization of railways is an important task for the further improvement of European infrastructure. Harmonization of telecommunications in railway operation, with the goal of full interoperability, is a key element. And an harmonized interoperable system in Europe is expected to open the way to global harmonization. The European authorities have selected GSM-R as the transmission technology. This is defined in the European Directive on High Speed Train Interoperability and by other forthcoming European Directives for railways (including the European Directive on Conventional Lines interoperability), with standardization being a key to achieving an harmonized solution. GSM-R uses the GSM technology, but the specialized requirements for harmonized railway operation, in particular for high-speed trains, means that applications have to use the GSM system in a specific way.

Technologies

Aeronautical Broadband Wireless Access Broadcast DECT Digital Mobile Radio EMC Emergency Environmental Aspects Fixed-line Access Grid and cloud computing Human Factors Intelligent Transport
Automotive EMC Automotive Radar DSRC Electronic Fee Collection Cooperative ITS Railway Communications

European railways
Within Europe, GSM-R is now being combined with the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) to form the basis for an Intelligent Transport System that will give railways the means to improve the efficiency of rail operations and offer new services to users. ERTMS, the European Rail Traffic Management System, is the new rail management system for Europe which combines the European Train Control System (ETCS) with GSM-R. The first high speed line using ERTMS, enabling interoperability throughout the European rail network, went into use between Naples and Rome, and is already being extended to Florence. By the end of 2007, as well as Italy, Spain, Germany and Switzerland, there will be projects operating for high speed lines in France, the Netherlands and Belgium. The conditions for implementing cross-border GSM-R between France, the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium were defined in 2006 and the roaming agreements are in the process of being signed. GSM-R on border-crossing trains is becoming a reality and most European countries are expected to sign up during 2007. The introduction of Direct Mode Operation (DMO) within GSM-R for its use for GSM in Professional Mobile Radio (PMR) is an important evolution which answers not only the requirements of the railways but also offers the possibility of fulfilling the needs of the blue light emergency services.

M2M Maritime Media Content Distribution Medical Mobile Next Generation Networks OSA OSS Powerline Protocol Specification Quality of Service Quantum Key Distribution Radio Regulation & Legislation Safety Satellite Security Smart Cards Smart Grids Testing TETRA

Beyond Europe
The GSM-R system continues to spread to ever wider geographical areas. During 2006 it was adopted, among other places, in Saudi Arabia and Israel in the Middle East. In the Far East it has extended into India and China, where networks are being implemented; there are now three lines up and running and a huge development programme is planned for coming years. Australia is

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Railway Communications
considering GSM-R and in North Africa Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco are adopting the system. In South America, Argentina, Mexico and Brazil are looking into the ERTMS as a possible global system for their rail operation.

White Papers & Brochures

Professional Mobile Radio (PMR)

In a significant breakthrough in the PMR market, one of the major public operators in Germany is now introducing a PMR service using GSM-R features.

Download the GSM for railways technology leaflet

ETSI 2012, ETSI is certified ISO 9001:2008

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