Ericsson and Bombardier Bring LTE to 200 KPH

Will connectivity work at high speed? It’s the connected transportation question you didn’t know you needed to ask. Well, now we have an answer.

Ericsson and Bombardier have announced completed trials of LTE networks for railway solutions at simulated speeds of up to 200 kilometers per hour. A total of 11 tests were conducted in a laboratory to determine the ability of the LTE networks to support communications-based train control (CBTC) and services like closed-circuit television (CCTV), voice, platform information, advertising and Wi-Fi for passengers.

CBTC uses high-resolution location determination and high-capacity data communications - such as those enabled by LTE networks - to support automatic train protection, operation and supervision functions. With more accurate information about the exact positions of trains, operators can manage traffic in a more efficient and safe manner. CBTC systems are more reliable than older train control systems, require less wayside equipment, have built-in redundancy features and enable operators to make optimal use of tracks and trains by responding to demand more swiftly and efficiently.

In the CBTC tests, the LTE networks achieved uplink and downlink latencies far below the threshold of 100 milliseconds and packet losses approaching zero. Quality of Service capabilities built into Ericsson's equipment also allowed for the preemption and prioritization of mission-critical railway services.

“The results of the tests performed to date are very promising and we will continue to test a variety of modems to ensure we can provide robust LTE networks for rail applications,” said Charlotta Sund, head of Customer Group Industry & Society, Ericsson. “We aim to develop solutions that ensure enhanced rail safety through communications-based train control and CCTV, as well as enhanced entertainment for passengers through services such as voice, platform information, advertising and Wi-Fi.”

What this says to me is that, perhaps, the hype about 5G is still just that – and maybe not required as soon as we thought. Let the LTE time roll!