Alcatel-Lucent, Adif in C&S R&D pact

Alcatel-Lucent and Adif, a Spanish state-owned company responsible for the management of Spain’s railway infrastructures, on Tuesday said they have signed a collaboration agreement for the testing of communications technologies for use on railway transportation systems.

Teams will test how a single IP-MPLS multi-service and mission critical network can support GSM-R systems, fulfilling the highly demanding railway quality and security specifications, optimizing network build and operation, and improving network service capabilities.

Additionally, the teams will investigate how a LTE mobile broadband system for railways in conjunction with IP convergence can handle different types of traffic such as voice, data and video, to standardize communications across railway networks. The companies will also develop integrated multimedia solutions for improving passenger information systems.

Alcatel-Lucent and Adif will test these technologies in Adif’s new Railways Technology Centre in Malaga, Spain, which has been created to foster innovation and enterprise collaboration around railway technology. The center is intended to be a base for global research and development of communications for high-speed train transportation. This collaboration project is designed to help strengthen Spain’s position at the head of global and European railway system technology.

The framework agreement also covers related activities such as: the collaboration and submission of joint R&D proposals for European and domestic grant opportunities; the development of innovative scientific projects of interest to both companies; the creation of working groups and reports for the development and follow-up of scientific findings; and joint co-operation in training programs if required by the projects.