Abu Dhabi, UAE, 29 September 2010: Huawei, a leader in providing next-generation telecommunications network solutions for operators around the world, today announced its plans to provide GSM-R (Global System for Mobile Communications – Railway) technology as part of the GCC-wide railway transport system scheduled for 2017. At this week’s MENA Rail Projects 2010 organised by MEED, Huawei spoke about the ICT Development in the Railway Industry.
This Middle East announcement follows closely after a live demonstration of Huawei’s end-to-end GSM-R solution, featuring high-reliability redundant backup, at the recent International Trade Fair for Transport Technology (InnoTrans) 2010 in Berlin, Germany. Huawei also showcased its latest LTE-based solution for high-speed railway communications in Berlin. Mr. Liuqi, Enterprise Director for Middle East, Huawei, said, “With the advent of urban mobility through high-speed railway, there is demand for improved security, stability, reliability, and data transfer in railway communications. Huawei’s end-to-end GSM-R solution, which creates business value for railway operators, has been successful under various conditions, including complex landforms and fast moving trains.”
GSM-R technology is vital for improving rail network safety, offers value-added functions, and provides greater coverage than analogue radio networks. Huawei’s GSM-R solution links all rail operations on the network, providing an integrated voice communications system, optimizing train control, signaling, shunting, trackside, as well as improving communications between train crews and transit officers.
Huawei’s GSM-R solution is characterized by:
• Huawei introduces its original distributed base station platform into the GSM-R system. This platform can overcome the inability of cell handovers on high-speed trains and limited wireless coverage in weak fields, such as tunnels.
• A three-layer solution to ensure high reliability of the GSM-R system: redundant design at the device layer, overlay coverage at the network layer, and multiple mechanisms at the operation and maintenance (O&M) layer.
• A guarantee of stable and real-time transmission of data for the train control system in fast-moving situations and it enables the entire transport system to run at shorter intervals at a higher performance level.
Huawei’s LTE-based HRC (high-speed railway communication) solution is characterized by:
• The delivery of stable bandwidth of up to 30 Mb/s, while the train is travelling at a speed of 350 km/h or above, and overcomes the wireless mobile broadband coverage restrictions for high-speed trains.
• Providing diversified railway applications for high-speed trains, including access to multi-standard (2G/3G/WiFi) user devices, video surveillance, system maintenance, closed-circuit television, e-booking, and other broadband services.
“Huawei’s GSM-R solution addresses the main challenges facing railway operators and the industry as a whole. As technology advances, so does Huawei and the GSM-R system is ready to fulfill the requirements for high-speed railway communications on trains with faster, safer, more customized solutions,” continued Mr Liuqi, “In addition to fulfilling high coverage requirements, Huawei GSM-R system provides a signaling carrier system at a high security level. With this system, trains can operate without traffic lights, and the security of train dispatching on the line is ensured.”
Huawei began its research and development on GSM-R in the late 1990s and has become the only GSM-R vendor to be compliant with the European Integrated Railway Radio Enhanced Network (EIRENE) specifications for communications on trains travelling at 500 km/h. To date, Huawei has constructed railway communications systems that cover more than 6,335 kilometers. Huawei’s systems have been applied to state-of-the-art railways in China, Australia and Europe, to provide high quality, reliable and seamless coverage under complex situations.
