Success Case
5G railway signalling
Railways
The signalling division of CAF and Cellnex have achieved a technological milestone, both in the laboratory and in real field tests, by successfully validating their Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) system, OPTIO, on a 5G telecommunications network deployed and managed by the telecommunications infrastructure operator.
This validation is one of the first in the world to demonstrate that a CBTC solution can operate effectively on a 5G telecommunications infrastructure.
This progress has been possible thanks to European co-financing through the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), within the framework of the UNICO Sectorial 2023 programme (PROJECT TSI‐065200‐2023‐006).
Challenges
Railway signalling is entering a new era, laying the foundations for safer, more automated and sustainable lines, in line with the demands of 21st-century smart cities.
The fundamental objective of the project has been to promote R+D to integrate ultra-low latency and high-capacity 5G connectivity in critical railway systems, including tunnels, thus improving the safety, efficiency and reliability of operations and preparing the infrastructure for the challenges of future smart mobility.
Solution
OPTIO is CAF’s state-of-the-art CBTC system that is modular, flexible, scalable and ready for current and future challenges. It allows improvements in safety, punctuality, capacity and efficiency. In addition, it reduces energy consumption and offers total operational flexibility, both on new lines and in modernizations of existing lines. Its compatibility with multiple wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi, LTE and now, also 5G, positions it at the forefront of the market.
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