TETRA  |  2017-05-16

Sepura Launches Whitepaper on TETRA and GSM-R

Source: MCCResources

The document, written by Sepura looks at both TETRA and GSM-R, and compares the two technologies. It covers aspects relating to their performance and features, showing why TETRA has important advantages in comparison with GSM-R in a wide number of areas.

Many railways operators face a dilemma when choosing the wireless technology to support their networks’ communications requirements: in 1993, a time when the TETRA standard was just being established, the Union Internationale des Chemins de Fer (UIC) chose the GSM standard as a basis for its future digital mobile system.

This led to the specification of the GSM-R (GSM for railway) standard, and the introduction of Voice Broadcast Calls, Voice Group Calls and Priority features as new added services in GSM.

However, the rapid adoption of TETRA technology by the public safety sector has catalysed its use in a growing range of markets: TETRA is now the de facto radio technology for public transportation such as trams and metro systems. But why is TETRA so suited to railway operations? What are the factors that have driven its success and led to such exponential growth in its use?

The document, written by Sepura looks at both TETRA and GSM-R, and compares the two technologies. It covers aspects relating to their performance and features, showing why TETRA has important advantages in comparison with GSM-R in the following areas:

  • Spectrum efficiency
  • Coverage
  • Cost
  • Public safety and mission-critical features
  • Manufacturer support
  • Future-proofing and future development of the technology

Download the whitepaper