UNION CABINET GIVES NOD FOR 4G BOOST FOR RAILWAYS
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday allotted 4G spectrum to Railways, a step that will enable the country’s largest mass transport system to switch from the 2G data network, leading to better communications and operational safety, information and broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar said.
The Railways has been allotted five megahertz, a measure of radio frequency, of 4G spectrum, which is estimated to entail an investment of over ₹25,000 crore. The changeover will be completed in the five years, the minister said.
The Railways’ critical communications and signalling systems rely on data network. A switch to 4G will enable realtime and faster operation of communication systems of the carrier because it will boost bandwith and other technical parameters such as peak capacity.
The railways, for instance, can now get live video feed of CCTV cameras from train coaches to ensure safer train operations.
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday allotted 4G spectrum to railways, a step that will enable the country’s largest mass transport system to switch from the 2G data network, leading to better communications and operational safety, information and broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar said.
The railways has been allotted five megahertz, a measure of radio frequency, of 4G spectrum, which is estimated to entail an investment of over ₹25,000 crore. The changeover will be completed in the five years, the minister said.
A switch to 4G will enable real time and faster operation of communication systems.
According to an official statement, the shift will ensure “seamless communication between loco pilots and guards”. It will also enable Internet of Things-based remote monitoring of coaches, wagons and locomotives.
The allotment of 4G spectrum will essentially the Railways to provide LTE or long term evolution-based mobile train radio communication.
“The modern rail network will result in reduced transportation cost and higher efficiency. Also, it will attract multinational industries to set up manufacturing units to fulfill the ‘Make in India’ mission and generate employment,” a statement said.
Additionally, the railways has approved the TCAS or Train Collision Avoidance System, Javadekar said, which is an indigenously automatic train protection system. “This will help in improving the safety and increasing the line capacity to accommodate more trains using the existing infrastructure,” the minister said.