Telecom Lead Europe: Mobile broadband solutions
major Nokia Siemens Networks claims that it is leading the global GSM-R (GSM
railway) market with 60 percent share.
Nokia Siemens Networks provides core network platforms
with automatic traffic sharing functionality to ensure uninterrupted
communications.
On March 6, Nokia Siemens announced that Jernbaneverket,
the Norwegian national rail administration, is strengthening its GSM-R core
network by using Nokia Siemens Networks’ core network elements with load
sharing functionality.
Nokia Siemens Networks will upgrade the existing core
network elements at the primary site and deploy an additional core network
platform. This additional network at a distant location will carry the full
traffic in case of any disaster or during maintenance activities at the primary
site.
We wanted to further improve the quality of our railway
communications by ensuring high availability of the GSM-R network. This will
enhance efficiency of our railway operations, minimize train delays and improve
safety of our passengers,” said Svein Erik Rasmussen, commercial manager,
Jernbaneverket.
As communications and control is critical to railway
operations, it’s important for operators to deploy an upgraded core network
that can back up as well as share network traffic increasing the reliability of
the overall system,””said Terje Hoemsnes, head of the Jernbaneverket customer
team at Nokia Siemens Networks.
Nokia Siemens’ advanced core network platforms with load
sharing functionality will ensure that the network elements work as an active
as well as a backup system. This will help Jernbaneverket avoid overload in the
network, reduce or eliminate downtime during maintenance activities or any
disaster and strengthen reliability of communications.
Under the contract, Nokia Siemens Networks will upgrade
Jernbaneverket’s existing R99 core platform with its R4 core platform at the
primary site in Trondheim. The company will deploy an R4 platform to build a
backup network at a distant location. This platform comprises mobile
softswitch, mobile gateway and circuit switched data server with load sharing
functionality.
As part of building the additional core network, the
company will also provide its Railway@vantage 5.0 intelligent network (IN)
platforms with load sharing functionality. As part of the contract, new
dispatcher terminals will also be delivered to modernize Jernbaneverket’s core
network.
Nokia Siemens Networks will also provide its subscriber
data management platform, including the One-NDS subscriber profile repository
and the NT-HLR (New Technology Home Location Register).
The company will integrate its virtualized network
management system, NetAct to provide consolidated configuration and monitoring
in the GSM-R network. Planning, implementation, and full set of hardware and
software services from Nokia Siemens Networks are also part of the contract.
These services will ensure a rapid rollout of the core network for
Jernbaneverket.
