FRMCS/bbIP/TKIP – communication solutions for the high-performance network

Conversion of the communication infrastructure to the 5G-based FRMCS with bbIP platform

Deutsche Bahn is setting its course for the digital future of rail operations with the Digital Rail for Germany program. This future requires modern and highly available operational telecommunications platforms such as the implementation of a 5G-based FRMCS radio network, a railway IP network for the transmission of safety-related railway data and – as a basis for both – a nationwide fiber optic network with fiber optic cables along the railway lines. quattron has supported Deutsche Bahn in all three projects for many years.

quattron can rely on many years of international experience in the construction and operation of railway radio networks as well as knowledge of modern planning, construction, operation and organizational methods to support preparations for the introduction of FRMCS in Germany (e.g. network strategy, medium and financial planning, future processes and organization for network construction and technology introduction, project management piloting).

The Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) is developing into an operationally and safety-critical communication system with the implementation of broadband services based on 5G mobile radio technologies.

This means that new requirements must be met for the radio sites, concentrator sites and transmission technology. These include:

• Migration of transmission networks to secure fiber optic networks and introduction of optical multiplex and switching technologies 
• Increasing security levels in the area of data and cyber security 
• Increasing the availability of locations and communication connections by creating redundancies in the routing of signals and by setting up highly resilient technical locations and data connections
• Use of intelligent network management and traffic routing systems

In the area of radio networks, the higher operating frequencies of the FRMCS result in new requirements for network planning and the construction of radio sites. Shorter distances between radio sites lead to a significant increase in the number of radio masts along railway lines. The aim here is to find cost-effective solutions for mast constructions and technical housings that guarantee rapid installation and highly secure operation of the radio and transmission technology.

Data connections between digital rail’s operational locations (e.g. digital interlockings and operating systems) will be implemented via the railway’s own operational IP network (German: bbIP). quattron has provided support to Deutsche Bahn for many years in the conception and approval of this, as well as in the area of IT security and project management.

Data communication for FRMCS is based on a fully fiber optic-based transmission network. The increased requirements for data transmission capacities and the availability of the connections are met by means of redundant routing in the connection of the radio and concentrator locations. Quattron provided services such as the creation of a network strategy with the design of nationwide ring structures, the co-development of innovative and resilient construction methods (milling of armored outdoor cables, simplified planning procedures, big data management to determine laying routes outside restricted areas) and the management of suppliers as well as the potential use of free capacities by commercial partners.