"The largest European railway operators in Germany, France and in the UK rely on our extensive experience and our comprehensive GSM-R expertise. In Spain, Adif has selected us as a partner to continue the modernisation of the national train radio network. This project is the beginning of a long-term partnership. Comprehensive extensions of the Spanish GSM-R train radio network are scheduled in the coming years", says Michel Clement, Kapsch CarrierCom’s Vice President of GSM-R.
The project includes the deployment of a turnkey GSM-R access network and the infrastructure for public mobile operators (GSM and UMTS) on the Galician High Speed Line from Ourense to Santiago de Compostela, the capital of Galicia (88 km). Extensions of this High Speed Corridor are planned and the network shall be expanded to Olmedo, which is already connected to Madrid. The Ourense to Santiago de Compostela High Speed Corridor is also planned to be connected with Porto in the north of Portugal along the Vigo international axis.
GSM-R enables borderless communication
GSM-R revolutionises international railway traffic. With the inter-connection of the European GSM-R networks and using the internationally standardised end-user terminals, cross-border communication using the same equipment is possible for international trains. In the past, trains had to be equipped with various wireless communication systems depending on the routing. Individual railway specific operating procedures also complicated the communication. GSM-R considerably increases the competitiveness of rail traffic compared to road traffic. 79,300 km of rail have already been equipped with GSM-R in Europe, thereof 65,800 km are already in operation. In total 150,650 km of rail are planned to be equipped with digital wireless train communication in the coming years. "With a market share of 52% of the GSM-R worldwide market, measured in kilometers of railway tracks covered by GSM-R railway infrastructure, Kapsch CarrierCom is the number one supplier worldwide. With our long term experience, outstanding technology and a strong customer focus we are primed to strengthen our position as the GSM-R market leader over the next few years", adds Michel Clement.
Kapsch CarrierCom is a global manufacturer and independent system integrator of telecommunication solutions for railway operators and providers of access, core and transmission networks. In seven R&D centers in Europe and Asia, Kapsch CarrierCom develops applications and services for next generation networks and innovative OSS/BSS solutions. In addition, Kapsch CarrierCom provides an end-to-end service spectrum, which ranges from consulting, designing, installing and integrating, to maintaining, operating and supporting entire networks.
With 70,000 track-kilometers covered by GSM-R, Kapsch CarrierCom is an internationally recognized specialist and partner for railway operators such as the French railway RFF, the German railway DB and Network Rail in the United Kingdom. In the public operator segment, Kapsch CarrierCom’s customers include service providers such as the companies of the Telekom Austria Group, eircom in Ireland and Chunghwa Telecom in Taiwan. Kapsch CarrierCom is part of the Kapsch Group and has its headquarters in Vienna.
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