Communications solutions for high-performance railway networks
Shaping the information and communications infrastructure for the future
Transition of the communications infrastructure to the 5G-based FRMCS
Railway operators across Europe are setting the course for the digital future of rail operations. This future requires modern and highly available operational telecommunications platforms, such as the implementation of a 5G-based FRMCS radio network, a secure railway IP network for the transmission of safety-critical operational data, and – as the foundation for both – a nationwide fibre-optic network running alongside railway lines.
quattron has been supporting railway operators in Germany and internationally for many years with all three of these projects.
Drawing on its long-standing international experience in the deployment and operation of railway radio networks, combined with expertise in modern planning, construction, operational and organisational methods, quattron supports the preparations for the introduction of FRMCS from the very outset (e.g. network strategy, resource and financial planning, future processes and organisation for network deployment and technology introduction, project management and pilot schemes).
With the implementation of broadband services based on 5G mobile communications technologies, the railways’ mobile communications system (FRMCS) is evolving into a communications system critical to operations and safety.
This enables us to meet new requirements for radio and concentrator sites and transmission technology.
Foremost among these are:
- Migration of transmission networks to secure fibre-optic networks and the introduction of optical multiplexing and switching technologies
- A significant increase in the level of security in the areas of data and cyber security
- Increasing the availability of sites and communication links by establishing redundancies in signal routing and by setting up highly resilient technical sites and data connections
- Deployment of intelligent network management and traffic routing systems; close technical coordination with industry; and provision of technical and specialist support to the client during contract negotiations and in the preparation of award decisions
In the field of radio networks, the higher operating frequencies used in FRMCS give rise to new requirements for network planning and the layout of radio sites. Shorter distances between radio sites lead to a significant increase in the number of radio masts along railway lines. The challenge here is to find cost-effective solutions for mast structures and technical enclosures that ensure rapid installation and highly reliable operation of the radio and transmission technology.
Data connections between railway operational sites (e.g. digital signal boxes and control systems) are established via the railway’s own IP networks. quattron has been supporting Deutsche Bahn for many years with the design and certification of this safety-critical IP network, as well as in the areas of IT security and project management.
Data communication for FMCS relies on a fully fibre-optic-based transmission network. The increased demands on data transmission capacity and connection availability are met by means of redundant routing in the connections between the radio and concentrator sites. In this context, quattron provides services ranging from the development of a network strategy involving the design of nationwide ring structures, through the co-development of innovative and resilient construction methods (such as the milling of armoured outdoor cables, simplified planning procedures, big data management to identify laying routes outside restricted areas, and much more), right through to the management of suppliers and the potential utilisation of spare capacity by commercial partners.
We support the railways’ forward-looking approach to the planning, implementation and operation of FRMCS through organisational development, drawing on our experience and a progressive outlook. The necessary workforce planning for this ranges from assessing resource requirements and drawing up detailed job descriptions to modelling the change and integration processes for new staff, including onboarding and training.