14 DAY TRIAL // Austrian Railways (?BB) has selected Kapsch CarrierCom and Nortel to deploy a national network that will deliver vital communications for staff working on trains and ground-based operations.
Kapsch CarrierCom will provide ?BB with a new digital European standard GSM-R system for connecting railway staff on board ?BB trains to the European railway radio system. The system will also create a secure ground-based platform to deliver enhanced voice and data communications within Austria and abroad. Initially, digital radio communications will be installed on trains serving ?BB's main international routes, which cross borders to Germany and countries in Eastern Europe.
Creating the new digital railroad radio system for ?BB is a turnkey project with Nortel as the sole GSM-R infrastructure equipment provider. Kapsch CarrierCom is the general contractor responsible for delivering all contractually agreed network elements and services from network planning through to commissioning and servicing. Kapsch CarrierCom is also working with ?BB-Infrastruktur Bau, which is providing a major part of the infrastructure requirement and with other Austrian companies.
"This win with Kapsch in Austria will expand and simplify digital railroad communications in Central Europe," said Wim te Niet, president, Central Region, Nortel. "GSM-R network coverage for this key railway corridor is vital for creating a uniform cross-border digital train radio system. Once ?BB's system is up and running its international freight and passenger trains will need only one on-board communication system."
To date, Nortel has been selected to deploy GSM-R networks in three continents and ten countries, including national deployments for the three largest railway operations in Europe - RFF in France, Network Rail in Great Britain and Deutsche Bahn in Germany. Most recently Nortel was selected by the Algerian SNTF for the first GSM-R contract on the African continent and by TP Ferro for the high speed Figueras-Perpignan line connecting Spain and France.