Kapsch CarrierCom modernizes ÖBB railway radio communications:
Major order for digital railway radio communication system GSM-R from Austrian Railways

Kapsch CarrierCom won ÖBB’s tender for GSM-R - the new railway radio communication system that is standardized all over Europe. Kapsch will equip ÖBB with a new digital communication system. For the time being, digital railway radio communication will mainly be deployed on ÖBB’s main lines with international routes. Following Slovakia and the Czech Republic, Austria is the third country in Central Europe to introduce modern mobile communication for rail traffic using the competence and technical know-how of Kapsch. The order volume for Kapsch CarrierCom amounts to roughly 40 million Euros, alone in Austria.

"We are pleased that we won the bid for ÖBB’s new communication system. The decision was not only influenced by cost criteria but, above all, by the evaluation of our comprehensive, pan-European technological know-how. Kapsch has a great tradition as an expert on the analog sector and at the same time is at the forefront of implementing digital railway radio communication in Europe", explains Mag. Thomas Schöpf, board member of Kapsch CarrierCom. "Our expertise combines decades of analog know-how with up-to-date digital knowledge. Using this expertise, we will successfully connect Austria’s railway communication to the new railway radio communication system that is standardized all over Europe".

Implementing the new digital railway radio communication system for ÖBB is a real turnkey project. Kapsch as a general contractor is responsible that all agreed services are rendered faultlessly and on schedule: from network planning and setting up the constructional infrastructure via mounting the antennas up to network startup and maintenance. In this process, Kapsch cooperates primarily with ÖBB-Infrastruktur Bau AG, which provides a large part of the infrastructure and with other Austrian partner companies. The Canadian technology vendor Nortel, one of the world market leaders for GSM-R, supplies the most important network components for the turnkey solution.

"With Austria we have closed the circle of digital railway communication. For, step by step, we are also extending the GSM-R networks in Germany, Great Britain, France, Spain, Italy, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Besides Austria, Kapsch and Nortel have implemented GSM-R networks in many neighboring countries. The extension is proceeding rapidly", says Cyrill Busslinger, CEO of Nortel Austria. When these systems are completed, international freight- and passenger trains will only need one communication system on board. The next stages of digital railway after the projects in Central Europe lie in the bordering countries of Eastern- and Southern Europe.
 

About Nortel:

Nortel is one of the leading suppliers of communication solutions with a vital task: filling the basic idea “Business Made Simple“ with life. Trendsetting technologies for Service Providers and enterprises form the basis for multimedia applications and smooth busy processes. Nortel’s solutions overcome communication barriers and simplify complex network structures. Important information is available anytime - quickly, reliably, efficiently. Nortel takes care of customers in more than 150 countries all over the world. If you want to learn more about Nortel, please visit our website www.nortel.com. The latest news on the enterprise and its environment can be found at www.nortel.com/news.

About Kapsch CarrierCom AG:

Kapsch CarrierCom AG is the Kapsch Group’s system innovator of communication technology solutions for operators of fixed-, and mobile networks for voice- and data transmission. Kapsch CarrierCom covers all fields: from analysis, consulting, design, development, integration, installation and training up to maintenance and operation of complete networks.

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