Road to FRMCS
Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) is the working title for the upcoming 5G-based communication system for railways across Europe. Its development ist a joint effort by the international railway association UIC and the railway industry, co-financed by the European Union.
Find out why Funkwerk products are FRMCS-ready today.
Road to FRMCS
Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) is the working title for the upcoming 5G-based communication system for railways across Europe. Its development ist a joint effort by the international railway association UIC and the railway industry, co-financed by the European Union.
Find out why Funkwerk products are FRMCS-ready today.
FRMCS
As rail systems continue to be digitized, the future requirements for ultra-fast, secure and wireless data transmission will increase on a very high level, compared to previous analog and digital standards.
Due to increasingly dense timetables and route occupancies, quickly timed control information in conjunction with sensory data and video feeds will play an important role. Ultimately, when technologies are used for automated provisioning and/or driving of trains, data rates will increase dramatically and stringent latency requirements for real-time operation will have to be met.
Future of GSM-R
On its own, the current digital GSM-R radio network will no longer be able to meet future communication requirements. The prerequisite for this is a powerful mobile network, based on the ultra-fast new mobile communications standard 5G.
Nevertheless, GSM-R will not disappear for the time being, although FRMCS is meant to replace GSM-R in the long run. Due to infrastructural and economic influences in network expansion and the necessary interoperability of systems across national borders (some countries have only just introduced GSM-R), it is necessary to ensure connectivity of trains across Europe, aiming to support existing and future train radio standards.
Ready for FRMCS
MESA®26 – our communications platform for the digital future in european train radio. THE system for all requirements:
- built to order thanks to its modular design
- supports customer-specific migration
- multimode capable (analog, GSM-R, FRMCS)
- cost-effective
With the flexibility of our MESA®26, we ensure the operation of your traction unit. On top, the easy, flexible and modular expandability optimizes your existing investment. A very long life cycle of your existing MESA®26 train radio system from Funkwerk is guaranteed.
FRMCS
As rail systems continue to be digitized, the future requirements for ultra-fast, secure and wireless data transmission will increase an a very high level, compared to previous analog and digital standards.
Due to increasingly dense timetables and route occupancies, quickly timed control information in conjunction with sensory data and video feeds will play an important role. Ultimatively, when technologies are used for the automated provisioning and/or driving of trains, data rates will increase dramatically and stringent latency requirements for real-time operation will have to be met.
Future of GSM-R
On its own, the current digital GSM-R radio network will no longer be able to meet future communication requirements. The prerequisite for this is a powerful mobile network, based on the ultra-fast new mobile communications standard 5G.
Nevertheless, GSM-R will not disappear for the time being, although FRMCS is meant to replace GSM-R in the long run. Due to infrastructural and economic influences in network expansion and the necessary interoperability of systems across national borders (some countries have only just introduced GSM-R), it is necessary to ensure connectivity of trains across Europe, aiming to support existing and future train radio standards.
Ready for FRMCS
MESA®26 – our communications platform for the digital future in european train radio. THE system for all requirements:
- built to order thanks to its modular design
supports customer-specific migration
multimode capable (analog, GSM-R, FRMCS)
cost-effective
With the flexibility of our MESA®26, we ensure the operation of your traction unit. On top, the easy, flexible and modular expandability optimizes your existing investment. A very long life cycle of your existing MESA®26 train radio system from Funkwerk is guaranteed.
GSM-R laboratory and 5G campus network
At our headquarters in Kölleda, Thuringia, we operate our own certified GSM-R testing laboratory and a 5G campus network. This allows us to develop, manufacture and test dependable hard- and software in-house – ready for market.
GSM-R laboratory and 5G campus network
At our headquarters in Kölleda, Thuringia, we operate our own certified GSM-R testing laboratory and a 5G campus network. This allows us to develop, manufacture and test dependable hard- and software in-house – ready for market.
Pilot projects
Despite our development and testing capabilities, it is important to test new technology in real environments and in real operations. Therefore, Funkwerk contributes its know-how, as a partner, to pilot projects that test and expand FRMCS functionalities.
5G test track Erzgebirge
The Deutsche Bahn AG (german railway) operates a 5G testing network with corresponding MCX infrastructure in the “Erzgebirge”. The FRMCS modules used in this project are provided by Funkwerk. In particular, the seamless operation of FRMCS capabilities and its options is being tested, which we can ensure through our modular train radio systems.
Image: digitale Schiene Deutschland
DB S-Bahn (urban railway) Hamburg ATO
Since 2021, four train sets have been rolling highly automated for the “Digital Rail Germany” pilot project on a section of the Hamburg S-Bahn (urban railway), equipped with “ATO over ETCS”. These trains are facilitated fully automatically at Bergedorf station. For this pilot, we delivered the necessary 5G modules, which establish secure communication between the vehicles and the ATO operations center (Autonomous passenger service Hamburg Bergedorf).
FRMCS train radio platforms, gateways and modules | products
MESA®26
FRMCS ready
Our current modular MESA®26 platform for the digital future of pan-European train radio.
MESA®
product line
We offer various modular and economical migration solutions for our MESA®23 and MESA®25 train radio systems, which are widely used in multiple countries.
FRMCS Gateways
FGW-x
Our external FRMCS gateways offer two or more 5G modems with OBapp interface. Our gateways support both multipath and multiaccess technology.
FRMCS module
NR26-1
The NR26-1 is our 5G module for the MESA®26 train radio platform with an integrated FRMCS gateway.