Skip to main content

First trial of 4G LTE technology in a mass transit system

French public transport operator Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens (RATP) and Nokia have successfully completed the first trial of 4G LTE technology on a portion of the Paris Metro line 14. According to RATP, the trial demonstrated that a single 4G LTE network can be used for all operational train communications, which are currently supported by different channels – a mixture of wi-fi, digital radio and 3G/4G networks. The test demonstrated that a single LTE mobile network can replace tradition
August 9, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
French public transport operator Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens (4223 RATP) and Nokia have successfully completed the first trial of 4G LTE technology on a portion of the Paris Metro line 14.

According to RATP, the trial demonstrated that a single 4G LTE network can be used for all operational train communications, which are currently supported by different channels – a mixture of wi-fi, digital radio and 3G/4G networks.

The test demonstrated that a single LTE mobile network can replace traditional wi-fi networks and manage data transmissions from multiple applications simultaneously, including a simulation of train control (CBTC simulation based on pre-recorded real data). It also included video on trains and platforms; operational voice communications; multimedia passenger information on trains and platforms; and maintenance and supervision services.

This trial marks a significant contribution to start of the standardisation process required before any operational rollout of 4G LTE technology in transport systems and associated customer services.

The trial was carried out under the R&D SYSTUF (SYStème Télécom pour les Transports Urbains du Futur) project, which aims to demonstrate that it is possible to use a single telecommunication technology, such as LTE, that is able to meet both critical and non-critical applications of future public transport systems.

Related Content

  • October 25, 2022
    UITP highlights mass transit changes
    Increasingly, public transport passengers will no longer need to carry a dedicated smartcard ticket to travel, as technology enables virtually any type of contactless payment system to take over the role.
  • December 19, 2014
    Arbor improves security surveillance
    Designed as an in-vehicle PC for transportation applications and surveillance, the Arbor ARTS-4770 can be used in buses, trucks and other vehicles to monitor in-vehicle events. ARTS-4770 is able to play four-channel video smoothly on LCD display from high resolution IP cameras while simultaneously recording all images, which can be recorded onto a solid storage disk within the device, offering higher protection for passengers’ safety.
  • July 20, 2021
    Future-proofing transportation with a one-stop optical network solution
    Huawei is helping transportation customers leverage optical transmission networks to optimise their communications and ensure business survival in the fast-changing worlds of road, rail, aviation, maritime and logistics
  • August 9, 2016
    Wi-Fi Alliance and AT4 to test unlicensed LTE coexistence with wi-fi
    AT4 wireless is to provide testing services to assess the fair coexistence of wi-fi and LTE in unlicensed spectrum (LTE-U) devices in accordance with the Wi-Fi Alliance Coexistence Test Plan. The testing assesses whether commercially available LTE-U devices coexist fairly with wi-fi in the same environment. The development and deployment of LTE-U devices, which utilise 4G LTE radio communications technology in the unlicensed spectrum, introduces the possibility of interference with wi-fi equipment operat