en.Wedoany.com Reported - Ericsson is providing a 5G-enabled digital radio system (DRS) for a rail communications network in Southeast Queensland, Australia.

The project is part of a modernization plan for the rail infrastructure connecting Brisbane with Queensland's Sunshine Coast, where Queensland Rail is deploying a new digital signaling and train control system. This deployment comes as the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games approach.

The digital radio system will provide mission-critical 5G communications for European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2, a signaling technology that supports continuous digital train control. According to the supplier, the technology will help improve safety, operational efficiency, and network capacity, while laying the foundation for the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS).

The system is built around Ericsson's private 5G radio access network (RAN), along with a geo-redundant 5G core network and cloud infrastructure delivered by its Integrated Core Solution. The network will be deployed using the 1.9 GHz spectrum band.

Ericsson will work with UGL Transport and Frequentis to deliver the first operational section of the DRS for the Sunshine Coast line. This line is considered a key corridor in the broader upgrade program for the Queensland Rail network.

Ludvig Landgren, Head of Ericsson Australia and New Zealand, said in a statement that this is a significant moment for digital rail in Australia, and that Ericsson's mission-critical private 5G platform will underpin Queensland's next-generation rail communications network, driving the introduction of ETCS Level 2 digital train control technology. According to Ericsson's latest financial report, organic sales in its Southeast Asia, Oceania, and India region (including Australasia) grew by 4%, but reported sales declined by 2% year-over-year (YoY).