Broadband  |  2025-11-27

Funkwerk Helps Complete 5G-RACOM Project, Moving FRMCS Forward

Source: The Critical Communications Review | Gert Jan Wolf editor

The positive outcomes of the 5G-RACOM project confirm that multipath technology is interoperable, resilient and ready for the next phases of standardisation and industrial deployment in FRMCS.

Funkwerk today announced its significant contribution to the successful closing of the European 5G-RACOM (5G for Resilient and Green RAil COMmunications) project, marking a major step forward in the transition from concept to implementation of the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS). The project brings Europe closer to deploying next-generation, resilient, secure and hybrid communication systems for the railway sector.

As a committed partner in this multinational initiative, Funkwerk played a central role within Work Package 3, focusing on the development and evaluation of multipath protocols tailored to the stringent requirements of mission-critical railway operations.

Funkwerk’s key contributions included:

  • Implementation and evaluation of MP-QUIC: The team designed and tested multipath transport protocol behaviours under real rail operational conditions, ensuring reliability and performance in challenging environments.
  • Design and integration of Multipath Function (MPF) components: These components form a core element for managing multiple communication paths to strengthen network resilience.
  • Interoperability testing with leading industry partners: Together with Kontron Transportation, DB InfraGO, Vodafone, Technische Universität Ilmenau and Technische Universität Chemnitz, the team validated seamless interaction across technologies and vendors.
  • Demonstration of resilient connectivity for mission-critical services: Tests confirmed robust throughput and seamless handover performance essential for applications such as ETCS and Operational Voice communications.

The positive outcomes of the 5G-RACOM project confirm that multipath technology is interoperable, resilient and ready for the next phases of standardisation and industrial deployment in FRMCS. These results reinforce the project's key objective: enabling a reliable, energy-efficient and future-proof communication landscape for European railways.