Tony Crosby - 4Tel Pty Ltd

Rail Spectrum

Considerations and LimitationsTony Crosby, General Manager - Services

Outline

• Impact on rail industry

• Maximising capacity, efficiency and innovation

• Management of spectrum changes

August 18, 2015 ©4Tel Pty Ltd 2

Past & Present – Control & Info

August 18, 2015 ©4Tel Pty Ltd

voice

Train Control

Signal Control

(limited data)

interlocking

Radio spectrum

Discrete Processes

Narrowband

Pass Info Security

Manual Working

Voice-‐Based / Prone to error

Little Integration

Limited Data

Standalone systemsDefects

Rail Service Demand

• Due to escalation in demand most rail networks are under pressure to increase capacity, reliability & efficiency

• Freight: Forecast doubling of land freight task by 2020


Options to Increase Capacity

• Track duplication / new lines are challenging & expensive, long lead times – often the least preferred option

• ‘Sweat the asset’ – can we work it harder / smarter using new technologies?


Radio-Based Solutions

• Potential to improve network capacity & reliability

• Impacts the rail industry in several ways:

• Radio spectrum requirements

• Maintenance skillsets are different

• Ongoing software support is required

• Interoperability of diesel trains with metro cab signalling


Future: Radio-Based Solutions

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Radio spectrum

Rail Operations Centre

CCTV

SCADA

ATP/ATO

GPS

GSM-‐R

interlocking

Broadband /High Speed Data

High automation

Minimal use of voice

Data Transactions

IP: Data & voice convergence

PassInfo

Integration of functions

Is Harmonisation Interoperability?Harmonisation

• The preferred railway systems approach as all systems are the same e.g. PTC• And ‘One Approved Way’ lowers deployment risks

BUT • Creates monopoly rents and higher prices• Stifles new features and innovation• Creates uncompetitive barriers-to-entry• Limits system integration or separation• Requires universal use of the same operating rules for

safe operations

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Trade-offRail could use Harmonisation to:• Reduce connection costs• Set common modes of radio operation• Set common data description methodology• Set common security architecture

Rail could use Interoperability to:• Provide users with a wider choice of proprietary systems• Break up complex systems into integrated components• Improve scalability of system deployments• Improve features and allow innovation over time• Minimise monopoly-rent structures


Rail uses Harmonised Radio Bands

User choice from one or more of rail harmonised bands of:• 400-420 MHz

• Modes: FM (12.5kHz), DMR (2 x 6.25kHz)• GSM-R or LTE (1800MHz)

• Public Mobile Carrier 2G, 3G & 4G

• Satellite Mobile (Iridium)• Satellite Navigation (USA GPS)


No Spectrum/No Worries?

• Private Rail Solutions

• Unregulated spectrum e.g. WiFi


Non Harmonised Bands

What happens when open access railways do not harmonise the radio spectrum needed to support system interoperability?


USA: Positive Train Control (PTC)• 2008 fatal crash between a

Metro and freight train• PTC legislated in 2008 • Deadline: Dec 2015• Funded by industry• No guidelines provided to

industry – ‘just do it’


USA Networks:• 200,000km+ of track• 7 Class 1 railroads• 20+ regional railroads• 500+ local railroads

12 May 2015

• Amtrak train crashes• Cause: excessive speed (100%)

on a curve - preventable• “…delays in 'turning it on'

associated with FCC dealings and getting the bandwidth to upgrade the radios from 900 MHz to something higher (for more reliability).“


PTC Implementation Challenges

Hampered by a lack of:

• Harmonised spectrum• Interoperability standards

$US13 billion over 20 years


HARMONISATION IN ACTION

Rail does use a mixture of harmonisation and interoperability techniques


Overlay Carrier 3G/4G sites as in Australia


3/4G can be private orpublic network. If sitesare part of a CarrierNetwork, they would be supported by the Carrier (here Telstra)

Substantial Benefits

• No OPEX: bases are integrated into Telstra network. Telstra responsible for O&M

• Transfer OPEX from rail industry to mobile users

• Social: Improved mobile coverage for community use

• No upgrade cost from 3G to 4G to 5G: Telstra upgrades the network (rail industry benefits each time network is upgraded)


TRAIN RADIOIn-Cabin Equipment (ICE)

ICE is used on ALL standard-gauge locomotives operating on the interstate and connected short-haul lines. Some 1,200 locos.


In-Cabin Equipment (ICE) Train Radio


Communications Control Unit

• r


Costs of a Private Network

• Australia-wide private land mobile

• Calls are free! Are they really?

• Rail authority exposed to full risk and cost of ongoing support & obsolescence

• Costs transferred to industry via access fees

• Requires CAPEX to eventually replace

• How long does the supplier support the system?


Maximising Capacity

• Radio-based signaling has the potential to increase network capacity & safety• Key industry issues will be:• Transition from current to radio-based signalling• Suitable spectrum – Australia is a ‘standards

taker’ for radio-based signalling systems (900/1800MHz)• Ensuring competition of supply: compatible

spectrum for long term use• Interoperability with diesel-powered trains


1800MHz – Metro Use

• States purchased 15MHz of spectrum in 2006, renewed in 2013• Australia-wide allocation• 1800MHz the only band which is available to support railway

private LTE/GSM-R in Australia• Strong competing Telco demand for 4G mobile• Approx $500M of CAPEX for GSM-R in Sydney and Melb• Spectrum will be used to deliver communications for:• Track maintenance safety• Train control / Shunting• Emergency response etc


Metro /Remote /Regional


1800MHz – Regional Use

• 1800MHz spectrum Aust-wide for rail use

• ACMA is proposing to reallocate 1800MHz through auction in November

• ARA is seeking to protect spectrum for regional rail use


1800MHz – Was it Expensive?

• 1800MHz (2x30Mhz) raised $1.33Bn in 2000• OneTel Spectrum - Purchased for $532M (1998/2000)• 15Mhz acquired by Rail 2006-2008 for $7M (Melb, Sydney,

Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide)• Renewed in 2013 for $34M until 2028• Will spectrum continue to increase in price?


400MHz Rail Allocation

• 32 two-frequency channels• 6 single frequency channelsUsed for:• Yard / shunting / local communications• Activation of points machines• Local rebroadcast of emergency calls• End of Train monitoring* etc• Managed by ARA on behalf of the rail industry


400MHz Allocation


Efficiency & Innovation

Provision of Australia-wide 400Mhz and 1800MHz spectrum supports industry initiatives of:• Interoperability – crucial for open access networks• Capital investment e.g. GSM-R• Industry innovation• Lower industry costs: competitive tendering• Broadband applications: applications• Radio-based signalling


Spectrum Changes

• Certainty of spectrum is necessary to support future capital investment in radio-based solutions

• ACMA manages spectrum as a national resource

• FAP-7 developed by ACMA to provide guidance on the assignment of 400MHz Rail Industry spectrum

• ARA is consulted by ACMA when a non-rail entity requests to use rail spectrum


Telecommunications Committee

• Open to any ARA member

• Meet own costs


Telecommunications Committee

• Provides advice to ARA on telecom & spectrum issues including the potential impact of applications by non-rail users

• Industry lessons learned, wealth of knowledge


Summary

• Spectrum is an increasingly vital asset for the rail industry, driving future capacity & efficiency• Spectrum harmonisation is the basis for the efficient

operation of modern mobile technology• Narrowband and broadband spectrum is needed for

the connection of various rail mobile systems

• ARA is available to assist ARA members• ARA Contact: Phil Allan (02) 6270 4507


ARA.net.au

Engineering

Tony Crosby - 4Tel Pty Ltd