2019-02-05

Finish Railways now able to use the VIRVE TETRA network

Source: Frequentis
Curated by: Gert Jan Wolf - Editor-in Chief for The Critical Communications Review

Frequentis has implemented the Unified Railway Communication and Application (URCA) system to fulfil the FTA’s need for a cost saving transitional solution to the future GSM-R replacement. Finnish railway users can now use VIRVE - the Finnish Public Safety digital TETRA radio network - and public mobile networks for all railway-specific communication functionalities, allowing greater flexibility to follow the future evolution of such networks, as well as ensuring less dependency on one specific communication standard.

The contract also included voice recording and a special smartphone application, called RAPLI, which also allows the usage of the rail specific functions on the public mobile networks. Train radio has to be TETRA radio based on EU derogation, but all other mobile users can choose between the TETRA or public mobile network.

https://www.frequentis.com/sites/default/files/pr/2019-01/02_2019_FREQUENTIS_Finland_URCA_BIC_FINAL.pdf