FREQUENTIS PUBLIC TRANSPORT NEWS12-2013

FREQUENTIS HEADQUARTERS, Innovationsstraße 1, A-1100 Vienna, Phone: +43/1/811 50-0, Fax: +43/1/811 50-1009

Pho

tos:

Fre

quen

tis

AG

Dear reader,

welcome to the latest edition of the Frequentis Rail newsletter, which rounds off another successful year for our company. Many thanks to all our customers and partners for their cooperation and trust in Frequentis services and solutions!

GSM-R and mobility were two key themes in 2013, and will continue to hold the attention of the rail industry through 2014. In this issue, we re-veal how Mobile REM improves the responsiveness and effi ciency of rail incident management. ETCS Level 2 and GSM-R were popular topics for presenters at our Rail Days user meeting, where customers also put their project management skills to an unusual culinary test: we have the photos! We also take a look back at the UIC conference in Paris, where the future of GSM-R was a promi-nent theme. Perhaps we’ll see you at some top rail events next year – details inside!

May I wish you all the very best for a safe and successful 2014!

Thomas KarlDirector Frequentis Public Transport

MOBILE REM – THE NEXT CHAPTER IN STATE-OF-THE-ART INCIDENT MANAGEMENT

Most of our customers are already familiar with Frequentis REM, which has become the most complete rail incident management system avail-able. REM leads staff though operational incidents and emergencies, in-stantly identifying internal and external actors, automating and speed-ing up the communication process, and detailing every communication and action taken in a single recording that satisfi es all legal require-ments. In recent years, we’ve extended REM’s features to provide even more functionality, such as seamless integration with Frequentis voice communication systems or event triggers (ranging from video detection to lone worker protection).

With Mobile REM, Frequentis has opened up the next chapter in state-of-the-art incident management. It is not simply the transfer of existing REM functionality into a smartphone app, but an innovative approach that addresses completely new use cases to empower the team formed by the incident manager in the control centre and the offi cer on site.

When assigned to a certain incident, the on-site offi cer’s mobile device adjusts to the context of that incident. As a result, the offi cer can access a set of special context-related functions. For example, they can retrieve incident information, use direct access keys to contact all relevant inter-nal and external contacts at the push of a button, or take advantage of powerful documentation features (such as photos and voice recordings).

Continue page 2 >

EDIT

OR

IAL

Problem-free and safe operation of ETCS level 2 de-pends on data services provided by a GSM-R system. This system, consisting of mobile GSM-R devices, fixed ISDN terminations and the GSM-R network itself, must of course provide QoS for these data services. The Aus-trian Federal Railways (ÖBB) has been running ETCS Level 2 operations since the end of 2012. Frequentis and its partner company, TEAM, supported the ÖBB dur-ing the verification and certification of the QoS for the GSM-R network behind these operations. The main task was to provide the Notified Body with proof that the network fulfils all QoS requirements. Frequentis has co-authored an article describing the requirements, challenges and solutions involved in this verification and certification process, which you can read in the September 2013 edition of “Signal & Draht” magazine.

QOS ON GSM-R NETWORKS FOR ETCS LEVEL 2 OPERATIONS

None of this functionality requires any configuration of the mobile device itself. Instead, the device automati-cally provides this service by retrieving the most recent incident-related data from the central REM incident management system.

Equally, the link between the mobile device and REM means the incident manager at the control centre can immediately observe or access all actions taken by the officer on site. This allows the manager to monitor com-munications or gain valuable impressions of the inci-dent’s impact: photos and voice recordings are available immediately and assigned to the correct location on an incident situation map.

Last but not least, all data gathered by the mobile device during a particular incident is included in the central-ised incident recording for legal purposes. This again results in tremendous efficiency improvements, for ex-ample when investigating incidents. Previously, incident information was spread across numerous systems and components (like digital cameras). Today, with Mobile REM, all information is available immediately, clearly structured, and contains the correct timestamp, as well as accurate location and orientation data.

Interested? Call Frequentis or visit us at our Innotrans 2014 booth!

Thomas Dachauer … joined Frequentis in July and works as a presales engineer in the public transport team. He recent-ly completed a university course in logistics and transport manage-ment, and has some 13 years of experience in various national and international telecommunication companies. Thomas now applies this mix of knowledge and expe-rience to his work at Frequentis, designing and pricing innovative and customer-specific solutions for our clients.

Ronald Peters … is another fresh face at Frequentis, having joined the company in September. Based in Germany, he works as a solutions architect on proj-ects for Deutsche Bahn (who he’s worked with since 1997). Ronald has over 25 years of engineering and project expe-rience in various telecommu-

nications fields, with a deep understanding of both fixed and mobile radio systems. For his previous em-ployer, he was the first point of technical contact for customers, and he brings a wealth of international management and technical know-how to his new role.

Pho

tos:

Fre

quen

tis

AG

, ÖB

B

MEET THE TEAM > Thomas Dachauer | Ronald Peters

Continued from page 1 / MOBILE REM – THE NEXT CHAPTER IN STATE-OF-THE-ART INCIDENT MANAGEMENT

On October 9, Thomas Karl, Director Public Transport at Frequentis, welcomed 40 customers from 12 countries to the company’s Vienna headquarters for Rail Days 2013. After the offi cial opening it was straight into a se-ries of excellent presentations, with the UK’s Network Rail up fi rst to describe the challenges of migrating to a new traffi c management system.

The international fl avour continued with two presenta-tions from Switzerland’s SBB. The fi rst reviewed the challenges associated with incorporating operational feature releases into SBB’s Frequentis systems, while the second presentation revealed insights on GSM-R and public roaming. Austria’s TEAM then discussed the practical issues around GSM-R QoS criteria for ETCS Level 2 operation. Frequentis experts also introduced some of the com-pany’s newest technologies, including coming enhance-ments to the FTS 3020 fi xed terminal system and a dem-onstration of the Mobile extension for the REM incident management solution.

The day ended with a dinner that refl ected the Frequentis mantra of innovation and quality. Under the guidance of a top chef, participants prepared their own meal to-gether at the prestigious Wrenkh Restaurant. Needless

to say, much fun (and good food) was had by all, with the assembled rail experts able to master the task al-location and project management challenges faced in the kitchen. Day 2 brought more top international presentations. Poland’s PLK reviewed the country’s initial experienc-es with GSM-R implementation. Austria’s KiwiSecurity Software discussed advancements in automated video analytics for CCTV. Germany’s ProCom introduced vari-ous public address, alarm, SOS and intercom solutions for railways operating in harsh environments. Frequentis staff also gave participants an insider look at some of the special features and technical approaches of the FTS 3020, including its georedundancy solutions and the challenges of multiple network environments. They also spoke on IT security issues. The event fi nished with a guided tour of the Frequentis product line and integration fl oor. Customers left Vienna with a host of new insights and ideas they can use to meet the practical and technical challenges of 21st century railway communications. They also took away memories of good conversation and company, and even one or two recipes. We look forward to seeing everyone at the 2015 event. P

hoto

s: F

requ

enti

s A

G

Every two years, we invite our rail customers to enjoy two days of presentations and networking in the historic surroundings of Vienna. The 2013 event was another huge success, with customers building new contacts, renewing old acquaintances, and sharing insights and experience with peers from around Europe. Participants also heard an international line up of speakers present on a range of topics, with a strong focus on GSM-R technology and related case studies.

RAIL DAYS: A TASTE OF THE FUTURE

FREQUENTIS HEADQUARTERS, Innovationsstraße 1, A-1100 Vienna, Phone: +43/1/811 50-0, Fax: +43/1/811 50-1009

88_PT_Newsletter_1213

Pho

tos:

Fre

quen

tis

AG

, UIC

Freq

uent

is h

as e

ndea

vour

ed to

ens

ure

that

the

info

rmat

ion

in th

is d

ocum

ent i

s to

the

best

of i

ts k

now

ledg

e co

rrec

t, b

ut d

oes

not a

ccep

t any

liab

ility

wha

tsoe

ver

for

any

erro

r or

om

issi

on.

A LOOK BACK AT THE UIC CONFERENCE IN PARIS

September’s GSM-R Asset & Evolution Management Con-ference was organised by the UIC and the GSM-R Indus-try Group, with attendees enjoying the expert exchange of

information on the current and future state of GSM-R. There was considerable interest in the Frequentis booth, our two live demonstrations and the talk on GSM-R IP migration given by our own Markus Myslivec.

Our fi rst demo covered how lone worker protection works. When horizontal for a set period of time, Sagemcom TiGR 550RS GSM-R mobile phones text an alert with GPS co-ordinates and other data to the Frequentis REM incident management system. This in turn triggers, for example, a notifi cation box with an integrated GIS display.

The second demo covered the rail-related features available through our wireless dispatcher terminals, including registration, calling and display of functional numbers, as well as group and railway emergency calls.

Visit our booths at two big rail events to discuss your communication and operational challenges with our rail experts, discover the latest innovations in rail communi-cations technology and view live demonstrations of our cost-effi cient and user-friendly solutions.

A LOOK FORWARD TO UIC ISTANBUL AND INNOTRANS YOU’RE INVITED!

FROM SEPTEMBER 23-26, 2014, WE’LL BE IN BERLIN, GERMANY FOR INNOTRANS 2014

The event is one of the world’s premier trade shows for railway technology and 2014 will see tens of thousands of visitors from some 140 countries at-tend. Join us and see how your rail organisation can benefi t from our products and services.

FROM APRIL 1–3, 2014, WE’LL BE IN ISTANBUL, TURKEY FOR THE 11TH UIC ERTMS WORLD CONFERENCE

The conference has established itself as a vital event for those involved in the future of rail sys-tems. We’ll be offering our perspectives on ECTS, GSM-R and more, as well as showcasing relevant services and solutions.