GSM FOR ALGERIA

Categorized | Algeria

Posted on 09 April 2009 by Railways Africa Editor

Nortel has been selected to supply a GSM-R wireless communications system for Algeria’s new east-west “High Plateaus” railway which links the cities of Ain Toutta and Msilla.

This new contract follows the awarding of Algerian GSM-R technology contracts to Nortel in 2008 for two new railway lines connecting Tabia-Mecheria and Bordj Bouarreridj – M’Sila. The country’s first GSM-R network was awarded to Nortel in 2006 for the El Gourzi-Touggourt line in Eastern Algeria.

The Algerian National Railways Investment Company is managing the modernisation of the country’s extensive rail network, including the construction of new lines, signalling systems and the installation of other equipment.

The new line will be operated by Société Nationale des Transports Ferroviares (SNTF – the state railway of Algeria), which is the first railway in Africa to adopt the GSM-R standard. The project includes integrating the GSM-R radio system with ANESRIF’s core network, GSM-R base stations, terminals and radios, both handheld and cab, as well as related telecom services for the various lines.

Nortel’s GSM-R solution will enable ANESRIF to improve safety, reduce operational costs and increase average train speeds, in turn cutting travel times. The technology will help increase network interoperability and support new voice applications running over the GSM-R network such as railway emergency and group conference calls. These features are of key importance for track-to-train communications.

GSM-R helps increase the efficiency and safety of a railway by supporting reliable and secure communications among operational staff, including drivers, despatchers, train drivers and station controllers. GSM-R is part of the new European Rail Traffic Management System standard and carries the signalling information directly to the train driver, enabling faster train speeds and permitting increased traffic density while maintaining a high level of safety.

Nortel has over 15 years experience with GSM-R mobile communications technology and is currently providing GSM-R on three continents. The company has been awarded national GSM-R contracts in Austria, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Lithuania and the UK as well as large GSM-R deployments in Algeria, China, the Czech Republic, Italy, India, Slovakia, Spain and Turkey.