01 Apr 2016

Huawei to target UK with LTE train control system

Huawei is planning to present a Communication Based Train Control (CBTC) solution over Long Term Evolution (LTE) to the UK railway market after the technology was successfully validated during interoperability testing in France, which was performed in cooperation with Siemens.

Huawei's plans were confirmed by the company's Norman Frisch, GSM-R business development. Huawei has developed the urban rail LTE-M solution with Siemens based on 3GPP standards to provide multiple types of train control service to be carried out through LTE. It has reported that tests are “significantly accelerating” the progress towards a commercial rollout of CBTC over an LTE service, with Siemens’ providing specialist knowledge in developing the IP-based continuous bi-directional track to train data communication.

LTE can provide large data bandwidth, high-speed mobility, anti-interference performance and Quality of Service assurance for multiple services. The next step for this joint solution will be an on-site dynamic test, which will take place in the coming month. The collaboration between Huawei and Siemens started in March 2015 after both companies discussed technical solutions, confirmed preliminary plans and a schedule for cooperation.

In June 2015, the two companies set up a joint project plan, and a project team defining solution architecture and feasibility of testing in France. In November 2015, with technical guidance and onsite support from Huawei, Siemens France quickly completed successfully a large number of laboratory tests to carry CBTC, Passenger Information System (PIS), and closed-circuit Television (CCTV) services over an integrated Airlink LTE solution.