ProRail, the organisation responsible for the Netherlands’ national railway network infrastructure, has selected Nokia to modernise the GSM-Railway core network.

The upgrades should reduce downtime, cut long-term costs and improve service reliability. The four-year project paves the way for on-premises cloud-native control for railway systems.

The cloud-native Global System for Mobile Communications for Railway (GSM-R) core network is said to be a global first for the rail industry. By migrating its GSM-R core network, ProRail will enhance safety and services reliability for millions of passengers while paving the way for Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) networks.

The upgrade is part of a four-year modernisation project that will extend the life of ProRail’s existing 2G infrastructure, offering insights into cloud-native technology. It enables ProRail to improve its railway services, decrease downtime, integrate new technologies as they emerge, reduce long-term total ownership costs, make seamless decisions, and improve operational efficiency through real-time data exchange.

“It is good to see that our partner Nokia is still investing substantially in the development of GSM-R,” said Geert Laureijssen, manager for mobile communications at ProRail. “With the migration towards a cloud-native core network, we lay the basis for the next ten years of GSM-R operation and prepares us for FRMCS.”

As part of this life cycle management project, Nokia will supply, install and maintain its Nokia Cloud platform, a fully cloud-native core infrastructure that includes the Nokia assurance centre, packet core cloud mobility manager and gateway, registers, intelligent network, and data centre fabric. The project will also include upgrades for MantaRay NM, Nokia’s single network management system for all radio and mobile core technologies, archive cloud for automated network element backup and restore, and a network services platform for automating IP, optical and microwave networks, making ProRail’s railway communications more agile and efficient.

“Railways are a cornerstone of green and efficient mobility,” said Emanuele Di Liberto, head of Nokia’s global rail business. “By beginning the transition to a cloud-native architecture, ProRail is ensuring its communication systems remain secure, reliable and open to future innovation. We are proud to support ProRail in this transformation, which demonstrates the readiness of cloud-native options to support mission-critical infrastructure.”

Nokia (www.nokia.com) and ProRail’s deployment shows how European rail operators can build a foundation for future-ready communications as part of the ongoing industry’s digital transformation. The timeline for this transition is crucial as rail infrastructure operators prepare for GSM-R lifecycle extensions and plan their migration to FRMCS in Europe and beyond.

GSM-R is the current standard for secure, reliable railway communications, supporting essential voice and data for train control and operations. FRMCS is the next system, offering faster data, improved integration and enhanced safety. By moving to a cloud-native GSM-R (www.nokia.com/industries/railways/gsm) core, operators such as ProRail (www.prorail.nl) should be better positioned to explore synergies across applications, enable easier integration and accelerate their journey towards FRMCS (www.nokia.com/industries/railways/frmcs).