Lithuanian Railways has ordered a GSM-R network from Nortel, which is to be installed by local partner, Belam. The EUR50.5 million (US$74.3 million) contract includes the implementation of a GSM-R radio communication system along more than 1,563 kilometres (approximately 88% of the country's rail network) of Lithuania's rail routes. This is the first GSM-R network implementation in the Baltic region. The project is partially funded by the European Community Cohesion Fund for European regional development.
"Belam has worked with Nortel for more than 15 years on wireless communications projects and together we have considerable experience of delivering joint projects in the Baltic region, including Latvia and Lithuania. We partner with market leaders like Nortel so we can benefit from their experience and keep up to date on the top trends in railway communications," said Dmitry Krupnikov, director for Business Development, Belam. "Introducing GSM-R technology enables Lithuanian Railways to shift to a new level of cooperation within the entire EU railway system and will contribute to Lithuania's integration into the EU."
The Lithuanian Railways project requires a partial modernisation of the existing telecommunications system, including the replacement of the company's legacy analogue equipment with an end-to-end GSM-R system for voice and data that includes GSM-R terminals, dispatch system, backbone system, and services.
Posted to the site on 29th January 2008
Posted to: www.cellular-news.com/story/28922.php