UNION CABINET GIVES NOD FOR 4G BOOST FOR RAILWAYS

NEW DELHI: 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.