CORPORATE NEWS:
French railway manager selects Nortel for nation-wide GSM-R network
French railway infrastructure manager RFF (Réseau Ferré de France) and the French railway operator SNCF (Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français) have recently selected Nortel Networks, Canada, to provision a France-wide GSM-R (Global System for Mobile Communication-Railway) network under a 15-year agreement. The new GSM-R system will handle all voice and data communications for operation of trains within 15,000km of track as a replacement for the existing analogue radio system. The project will be underway by mid-2004 on the new Eastern France high-speed line (first phase of the future Paris-Strasbourg line). Service to railway operators is expected to be delivered on the first commercial lines by end of 2005. “The deployment of GSM-R is a key element to upgrading the French railway infrastructure and to its interoperability with other European networks. Choosing Nortel Networks GSM-R technology demonstrates the lasting quality of this system which is derived from the public mobile infrastructure GSM”, commented Mr Jean-Michel Richard, director of RFF railway infrastructure.
Nortel Networks GSM-R infrastructure provides features and telematics applications to enable railway operators to enhance emergency procedures, improve the operational efficiency and safety of existing transport systems and reduce the overall cost of operations. Network performance is also improved with GSM-R, bringing enhanced quality of service and reliability and providing clear voice and data communications to high-speed trains travelling up to 300km/h. Leveraging more than 10 years experience in GSM-R technology, Nortel Networks will now be supplying GSM-R in a number of countries, including France, Germany, the UK, Italy and Slovakia. Nortel Networks provided the GSM-R end-to-end system of the new German ICE high-speed line in commercial operation between Frankfurt and Cologne, as well as the high-speed line between Rome and Naples.
The French Railway infrastructure (RFF) is a French industrial and commercial state institution, created for the renewal of the French railway transportation system by a February 13, 1997 law. Its mission is to ensure the “layout, development, coherence and enhancement of France’s national railway infrastructure,” which it owns. RFF is responsible for the maintenance of this infrastructure, which the SNCF looks after on its behalf, along with the overall infrastructure operability and traffic management. Moreover, the RFF is in charge of laying-out and developing the infrastructure through investments to the national railway network.
RFF-Réseau Ferré de France - 92, avenue de France - F-75648 Paris Cédex 13 - France
Fax : Int’l +33 1 53 94 38 00
Website: www.rff.fr
Company: |
Nortel Networks |
Country: |
Canada |
Fax: |
+1 905 863 0000 |
Email: |
|
Website: |
www.nortelnetworks.com |