Broadband  |  2025-10-27

Live from Paris: 5th FRMCS Plugtests Event Showcases Interoperability in Railway Communications

Source: The Critical Communications Review | Gert Jan Wolf editor

The 5th FRMCS Plugtests highlights the importance of standardization and collaboration in advancing the next generation of railway communications.

The 5th Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) Plug Tests are underway this week in Paris, bringing together leading technology providers, railway operators, and industry stakeholders for a comprehensive week of interoperability testing and collaboration. The event is hosted by the International Union of Railways (UIC) and organized in partnership with ETSI, with support from the European Union (EU), European Free Trade Association (EFTA), and the TCCA – Critical Communications Association.

What’s on the agenda at this week's event?

  • Testing across the full stack of FRMCS and MCX components: client and server applications (MCPTT, MCData, MCVideo), IMS/SIP cores, radio access (gNB), packet core (5G), control rooms, and eMBMS infrastructure. ETSI
  • Special railway test cases: interoperability with legacy GSM-R systems, migration scenarios, aliasing, group calls, etc. ETSI+1
  • An observer program open to regulators, operators, and other stakeholders who can attend demonstrations, review test outcomes, and engage with participants. 
     


The FRMCS Plug Tests aim to accelerate the deployment of next-generation broadband communication for railways, replacing the legacy GSM-R systems with 5G-based solutions capable of supporting critical voice services, ETCS signaling, automated train operation (ATO), and advanced video and data-driven operational services.

Participants in Paris include global industry leaders such as Teltronic, POCSTARS, Consort Digital, Druid Software, and representatives from railway operators including DB InfraGO. The event showcases live demonstrations of 3GPP MCX standard solutions and other railway-specific features, with hands-on interoperability trials connecting multiple technology providers and operators.


Speaking on the importance of collaboration, Richard Fritzsche from DB InfraGO highlighted the scale of cooperation required to ensure reliable network operations across Europe, noting that these trials represent the first steps toward a fully digitalized rail network capable of handling faster data speeds, increased automation, and future applications.

Chris Ringrose, Software Engineering Manager at Siemens Mobile Communications, attending the event, emphasized the critical nature of interoperability testing:

“This week we are testing collaboration with many industry providers, ensuring seamless communication for mission-critical railway operations.”

Teams at the event stressed the importance of open standards and innovative solutions. Consort Digital confirmed their commitment to advancing open standards through their MCX ONE platform, while Nemergent and Druid Software noted the collaborative effort between on-site and remote teams to support testing and integration activities.


The 5th FRMCS Plug Tests in Paris demonstrate the railway industry’s ongoing commitment to digital transformation, creating a foundation for safer, more efficient, and technologically advanced rail operations across Europe.