November 10, 2020
Category: Technology
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For an extension and further improvement of European infrastructure, interoperability of railways is an imperative task. It is vital to harmonize telecommunications in railway operations while aiming for full interoperability, essential elements, and establishes a harmonized interoperable system in Europe. This is expected to open the way to global harmonization of Railway telecommunication.
Introduction of GSM-R:
The European authorities have chosen GSM-R as radio transmission technology. This can be defined as the technical specification for interoperability (TSI) related to the control-command and signaling subsystems of the trans-European rail system, standardization as a significant drawing force to achieve a harmonized solution. GSM-R is part of ETSI/3GPP GSM specifications and applications having specific Quality of Service requirements for a harmonized railway operation. Also, it operates in the ER-GSM band.
European railways
Within Europe, GSM-R is combined with the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) to build a foundation for an Intelligent Transporting System to improve rail operations and railways while offering new services to users.
The European Rail Traffic Management System, the updated rail management system combines the European Train Control System (ETCS) with GSM-R. With a unique European train control system, ERTMS is designed to replace the existing incompatible systems across Europe. This brings in many noticeable benefits to the railway sector and boosts international freight and passenger transport. Moreover, ERTMS is arguably the most high-performing train control system that brings significant advantages to maintain costs, safety, reliability, punctuality, and traffic capacity.
Beyond Europe
The GSM-R system is supposed to spread to even wider geographical regions. Beyond all European countries, it has been adopted in Saudi Arabia and Israel in the Middle East. Towards the Far East, it has extended into India, China, and Australia, where networks are being implemented. South Africa and North African countries also witness a similar case. By 2016, 56 countries across five continents selected GSM-R for their Railway operations.
Beyond GSM-R: Future Rail Mobile Communication System (FRMCS)
The GSM-R Industry Group indicates that the support of GSM-R products and services are guaranteed until 2030. Based on this information, the railway sector needs to mitigate the risk of non-availability of GSM-R as a radio system for train operation after this date.
Our Role & Activities
The necessary standardization work is carried out by a dedicated ETSI Technical Committee (TC), Railway Telecommunications (RT).
GSM-R
The standardization activities for GSM-R within TC RT mainly focus on the application of GSMTM for railway telecommunications. This includes numbering, addressing, configuration, system aspects, and many additional features and services sought by the railways. This also includes usage of GPRS/EGPRS for ETCS operation and IP-based protocols like SIP. It doesn’t include the specification of the GSM technology itself.
Future Rail Mobile Communication System (FRMCS)
TC, RT studies the next-generation end-to-end system architecture for rail transportation supporting multiple access technologies. At the same time, it also continues to work closely with the International Union of Railways on use cases and requirements for FRMCS. It is heavily involved in the standardization process for Mission Critical Communications within 3GPP. The ongoing challenges include positioning aspects, train speed up to 500km/h, and the integration of rail frequency spectra to use 3GPP radio technologies to focus on 5G New Radio.
TC RT has finalized an essential work on FRMCS functional and system architecture to deliver communication services and rail applications taking into account the need for a flexible radio bearer.
TC RT also collaborates with TC ITS to investigate the shared usage of the 5GHz frequency band for Urban Rail and ITS.
ETSI TC RT is represented in both JPC-Rail and RASCOP coordination groups.
