Telia’s mobile network with CBTC technology deployed in Oslo metro line
Telia is claiming a European first with the deployment of a digital signaling system on the Oslo metro that operates over the Nordic telecom operator’s commercial 4G/5G mobile network. Sporveien is the Oslo subway transport operator.
Developed by Siemens Mobility, the system uses communications-based train control (CBTC) technology to link trains, trackside equipment and central control systems. According to Telia, CBTC enables far more precise train-position tracking than legacy signaling platforms, allowing operators to safely reduce headways and run trains more closely together.
Morten Karlsen Sørby, acting Head of Telia Norway: “As far as we know, only the New York City Subway uses a mobile network as part of a signaling system. It places high demands on availability and service quality, and Telia is ready to deliver. We congratulate Sporveien on this new system, and we’re very proud of our innovative collaboration with both Sporveien and Siemens Mobility.”
Today’s launch is on the Oslo Metro’s line 4 between Brattlikollen and Bergkrystallen, with implementation across the entire subway scheduled for 2030. The current signaling system has been in place since the Metro opened in 1966.
Birte Sjule, CEO of Sporveien: “The subway can only operate with a well-functioning signaling system, so this project is extremely important for Oslo’s residents. By replacing technology that has passed its useful life, we’ll reap additional benefits such as more frequent departures and increased capacity in the years to come.”
The solution delivered to Sporveien is part of Telia’s Enterprise Mobile Network (EMN) portfolio, which offers advanced and customized connectivity services to support industrial digitalization. EMN can use either 4G or 5G technology, or a combination, depending on the specific needs of the business.
Private 5G is now being integrated into CBTC systems to provide higher capacity, lower latency, and improved performance, especially in urban and high-demand environments. Companies are actively rolling out and testing CBTC with 5G, making it a next-generation standard for some new and retrofitted systems.
References;
Ericsson and Telia said to provide lower 5G latency & power dissipation/longer battery life
Non-coherent Massive MIMO for High-Mobility Communications
Selected Applications/Use Cases by Industry for ITU-R International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) – 3G, 4G & 5G
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This is the first deployment in Europe where a commercial mobile network (Telia’s 4G/5G network) is used for safety-critical train control communications — not a dedicated railway radio or Wi-Fi network.
Switzerland’s national railway operator has upgraded its legacy GSM-R mobile network by adding in VoLTE, just in time to avoid any disruption caused by the shutdown of Swisscom’s 3G infrastructure.
Ericsson worked with Schweizerische Bundesbahnen, better known as SBB, on the project. The pair claim that their live integration of the existing GSM-R system with an advanced IMS platform with VoLTE service is the first of its kind in Europe.
Ericsson made the announcement this week, but the service actually went live in April a couple of years after the platform deployment was initiated and following a period of extensive field tests with pilot trains that got underway in January.
https://www.telecoms.com/5g-6g/ericsson-upgrades-swiss-railway-comms-ahead-of-3g-shutdown