Globalsat Group, Inmarsat And Cobham Support Rumo With Rail IoT And Communications Solution Across Brazil

The solution enables accurate real-time tracking of each train and reliable voice and data communication between drivers, maintenance teams and Control Center.

In response to Rumo’s challenges Globalsat do Brasil, Inmarsat and Cobham SATCOM joined forces to offer a tailored communication and telemetry solution for rail networks. The solution enables the accurate real-time tracking of each train on the Rumo network, as well as reliable voice and data communication between drivers, maintenance teams and the Operations Control Center (CCO).
Beginning in early 2020, by the end of 2021 the project will equip 300 of Rumos locomotives with EXPLORER 325 (BGAN) terminals, EXPLORER Mobile Gateways and Cobham’s PRISM PTT + service. Cobhams Private Routing Intelligent System Management (PRISM) technology provides seamless and continuous connectivity by selecting the best available network (cellular/satellite/LAN) for voice and data communications with no user intervention. It also enables interoperability between DMR, LMR, and MCPTT systems ensuring the solution is fully compatible with existing technology on-board the locomotives.

Satellite connectivity is provided by Inmarsat’s Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) service, which works through Inmarsat’s solely owned and operated, global L-band network. BGAN is trusted by governments, armed forces and companies trust to stay connected when everything else fails and exhibits a 99.9% uptime. The solution was implemented by the service provider Globalsat do Brasil, who will also offer ongoing warranty, support and repairs on site, to ensure the optimal operation of the connectivity solution.

The solution ensures that Rumo has access to uninterrupted, high-quality connectivity to facilitate the transfer of telematics, voice and video data, allowing accurate real-time tracking of each train and communication between drivers, maintenance staff and regional control centres. The locomotive data is visualized in an application at the CCO, which depicts the entire railway network and the position of each vehicle, as well as its speed.

Initially the project will focus on covering all points of “Operation North”, an initiative connecting Mato Grosso to the Port of Santos. Ultimately, the structure’s intention is to provide the rest of the fleet with highly reliable BGAN connectivity, ensuring an efficient, cost-effective and secure rail network.

Although the project is in its initial stages, the partnership between Inmarsat, Globalsat do Brasil and Cobham SATCOM has produced immediate results. Before implementing the solution, messages between drivers and control centers took an average of ten minutes to be delivered. After the implementation of the satellite-enabled solution, the team now has access to real- time communications, between the driver and the CCO. This speed of communication and reliability has brought Rumo greater visibility of its assets and infrastructure, which has resulted in significant improvements in operational efficiency.