Nokia has announced a partnership with French multinational Alstom to provide a dedicated wireless network for the National Capital Region Transport Corporation's (NCRTC) Delhi to Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS).
According to a press release from the Finnish telecommunications company, the network will support European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2 signalling to maintain the safety of commuters on the high-speed rail route currently under construction.
The Delhi to Meerut RRTS is the first of a phased development of a high-speed rail network aimed at sustainable economic and social development through enhanced connectivity in and around Delhi.
"Expected to be fully operational by 2025, the low-emission RRTS will transport more people at an average speed of 100 km/h to reduce travel times and road congestion,"
According to the release, the fully redundant dedicated network is based on Nokia's Modular Private Wireless Solution (MPW) and includes its latest AirScale radios, evolved packet core functionality based on Air Frame, 7250 IXR IP/MPLS backhaul routers for mission-critical one-touch/video (MCx/GC) and Network Services Platform (NSP) management, and will span an 82km rail route with 25 stations.
A dedicated network is being deployed to support ETCS Level 2 and Level 3 signalling and Automatic Traffic Operations (ATO), which enables trains to use radio signals to continuously receive their movement rights and report their exact direction and location to ensure the safety of all on board. The introduction of LTE/4.9G technology for ETCS is an important asset for railway operators and will pave the way for a smooth transition to FRMCS (Future Railway Communication System).
We are delighted to be working with Nokia to develop our advanced signalling system for NCRTC using its extensive dedicated wireless capabilities," said Alstom's Managing Director, Alstom Digital Mobility, Alstom India Transport. The new high speed rail network will help transform the region."
Kamal Ballout, Head of CHIMEA (China, India, Middle East and Africa), Nokia Enterprise Solutions, said, "Nokia has supported the digital transformation of more than 380 companies across different industries with our private wireless solutions. Nokia's advanced rail solutions are designed to provide rail operators with a higher level of connectivity. Teams need real-time visibility of train locations to ensure passenger safety, and private wireless provides the security, reliability and high speed needed to achieve this."
