Huawei to construct GSM-R network for NSW RailCorp

Sydney, 7 January, 2010: Huawei Australia, today announced its selection by UGL Limited, Australia’s largest rail engineering company, as the sole supplier of technology and equipment, including the delivery of its GSM-R (Global System for Mobile Communications – Railway) solution, for RailCorp’s radio communications upgrades to the metropolitan rail network in NSW.

UGL was awarded the tender on the 21st December 2009, to design, supply, install and maintain a state-of-the-art digital train radio system (DTRS) on NSW RailCorp’s electrified rail network.

GSM-R technology is vital for improving rail network safety, offers value-added functions, and provides greater coverage than analogue radio networks. Huawei’s GSM-R solution will link all rail operations on the network, providing an integrated voice communications system optimising train control, signalling, shunting, trackside, as well as improving communications between train crews and transit officers.

“Huawei’s GSM-R solutions are recognised as state-of-the-art wireless communications systems that deliver safer, more advanced, railway networks,” said Peter Rossi, CTO, Huawei Australia.

“Our international experience and expertise will assist UGL in providing seamless wireless coverage across RailCorp’s metro network.

“We welcome the opportunity to work with UGL and RailCorp to improve the important metropolitan rail network in NSW to create a safer, smarter rail service for people in NSW,” Mr Rossi said.

Huawei began researching GSM-R technologies in 1996, and has since become one of only a few end-to-end GSM-R solution suppliers in the world. Huawei’s GSM-R solution fully complies with European Integrated Railway Radio Enhanced Network (EIRENE) specifications and requirements, and has successfully passed Lloyd’s product certification.

In April 2009, Huawei successfully launched its GSM-R communication system for the Shijiazhuang-Taiyuan passenger transport railway, which can reach speeds of up to 250km/h and covers 189.93km throughout China. The Shijiazhuang-Taiyuan railway includes Asia’s longest tunnel, the 28km Taihang double-tube tunnel. Huawei’s GSM-R solution solves coverage problems experienced inside long tunnels.

“The challenges we came up against in China can be applied to the Australian environment. Long tunnels, vast distances, and high traffic areas – all of these problems were overcome using Huawei’s innovative GSM-R solutions,” Mr Rossi said.