NETHERLANDS: ProRail has awarded enterprise telecoms specialist Nokia a contract to migrate its existing 2G GSM-R assets to a cloud environment as part of the infrastructure manager’s preparations for roll-out of the Future Railway Mobile Communications System.
The agreement announced on August 5 will see the two parties work together to deploy a cloud-native GSM-R core network. Nokia will supply, install and maintain its Nokia Cloud Platform, a fully cloud-native core infrastructure that includes the Nokia Assurance Center, Packet Core, Registers, Intelligent Network and Data Center Fabric. The project will also include upgrades for MantaRay NM, Nokia’s single network management system for all radio and mobile core technologies, Archive Cloud for automated network element backup and restore, and the Nokia Network Services Platform for automating IP, optical and microwave networks.
The work forms part of a four-year modernisation project that will extend the life of ProRail’s existing 2G telecoms infrastructure, which Nokia says will offer it valuable insights into cloud-native technology.
The upgrades are also intended to reduce telecoms network downtime, facilitate integration of new technologies as they emerge, reduce long-term total ownership costs, and support real-time data exchange across the Dutch rail network.
Consensus
Nokia says that the move to a cloud-native GSM-R environment should make the future transition to FRMCS standards quicker by making integration of applications easier and faster.
Over recent years, a consensus has emerged across the rail and telecoms industries that obsolescence issues and functionality limitations mean the 2G-based GSM-R platform cannot be supported much beyond 2030. The International Union of Railways has been co-ordinating the rail sector’s development of the FRMCS standards, which will enable railways to make full use of the potential of 5G and other advanced telecoms technology to spur greater digitalisation of rail operations.
Commenting on the agreement, Geert Laureijssen, Manager for Mobile Communications at ProRail, said ‘it is good to see that our partner Nokia is still investing substantially in the development of GSM-R. With the migration towards a cloud-native core network we lay the basis for the next 10 years of GSM-R operation and prepares us for FRMCS.’
‘Railways are a cornerstone of green and efficient mobility’, added Emanuele Di Liberto, Head of Global Rail Business at Nokia. ‘By beginning the transition to a cloud-native architecture, ProRail is ensuring its communication systems remain secure, reliable, and open to future innovation. We are proud to support ProRail in this transformation, which demonstrates the readiness of cloud-native solutions to support mission-critical infrastructure.’
- Go deeper: read our White Paper on Overcoming the Barriers to FRMCS.
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