Indian Railways plans to seek approval of the Union Cabinet for a digital rail corridor across its network, earmarking 10 megahertz (10 MHz) spectrum in the 700 MHz frequency band for safety, security and passenger services within the next three and a half months.
Approval on earmarking 10 MHz for safety in the 700 MHz band is pending with the Ministry of Communications as the telecom regulator TRAI is examining this proposal.
IR will be able to run a higher number of trains in the same network at higher speeds and shorter distances between trains, better operations during fog, besides enhanced passenger safety and security, once the spectrum is made available.
This will be achieved with setting up of MTRC (Mobile Train Radio Communication) and ETCS (European Train Control System) L2 train protection system.
IR envisages the use of a 700 MHz mobile network using the LTE standard to create a voice and data link between the train, control office, crews and equipment for this purpose.
The national transporter has previously run into trouble with its demand for a 10 MHz slice of spectrum in 700 MHz. The low-frequency band is considered valuable for mobile services because of better signal propagation characteristics as a result of the relatively lower frequency compared to the 900, 1800, 2100 and 2300 MHz generally in use for mobile services in India.
As a result, the band requires lower investments in mobile tower infrastructure for rural areas. This is expected to result in higher auction prices for the band when the next spectrum auctions are held later this year. Sections within the government are unhappy at the prospect of potential loss to the exchequer if 10 MHz out of the available 35 MHz are handed to Indian Railways for free.