Algerian Railways selects Nortel

Nortel has been selected to deploy a GSM-R wireless communications system for a new railway line in Algeria. The line links the cities of Ain Toutta and Msilla, as part of the High Plateaus railway system that crosses the country from East to West.
This new contract follows announcements last year awarding Nortel the Algerian GSM-R technology contracts for two new railway lines connecting Tabia-Mecheria and Bordj Bouarreridj - M'Sila, as well as the country's first GSM-R network which was awarded to Nortel in 2006 for the El Gourzi-Touggourt line in Eastern Algeria.
The Algerian National Railways Investment Company (ANESRIF) is managing the modernization of the Algerian railway system, including the construction of new railway lines, signaling systems and installation of other railway equipment.
The new line will be operated by Algeria's SNTF (Societe Nationale des Transports Ferroviares), the first African railway operator to adopt the GSM-R standard. This new Nortel deployment includes integrating the GSM-R radio system to ANESRIF's core network, GSM-R terminals such as handhelds and cab radios, base stations as well as related telecom services for the railway lines.
Nortel continues to support ANESRIF and the Algerian government with their railway modernization plans by providing proven, advanced technologies, along with support services based on our long telecommunications heritage, said Michel Clement, president, Nortel Carrier Southern Europe, Middle East and Africa. "These contracts are significant wins for Nortel in GSM-R and reflect the continuing satisfaction of our clients in our ongoing ability to deliver as promised."
Nortel's GSM-R solution is expected to enable ANESRIF to improve safety, reduce operational costs and increase average train speeds which in turn will cut travel times. Nortel's technology will also help increase network interoperability and support new voice applications running over the GSM-R network such as railway emergency and group conference calls. These features are of key importance for track to train communications along the new lines.
GSM-R helps increase the efficiency and safety of the railway by supporting reliable and secure communications among railway operational staff, including drivers, dispatchers, train engineers and station controllers. GSM-R is part of the new European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) standard and carries the signaling information directly to the train driver, enables faster train speeds and increases traffic density while maintaining a high level of safety.
Nortel has over 15 years experience with GSM-R mobile communications technology and is currently providing GSM-R on three continents. With more than 60 percent of the more than 115,000 km of tracks using the GSM-R system, Nortel is the number one GSM-R provider globally. Nortel has been awarded national GSM-R contracts in, Austria, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Lithuania, and the UK as well as large GSM-R deployments in Algeria, China, the Czech Republic, Italy, India, Slovakia, Spain and in Turkey.

Source: Transportweekly