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Fluidmesh Mulls Results of Trackside Tests in Italy
(30 Jun 2016, BWCS Staff)US/Italian company Fluidmesh Networks has been evaluating the results of a recent series of tests conducted along the high-speed train corridor between Milan and Turin. The technology outfit worked with local –partner Sirti to deploy a wireless train to ground system using 5GHz radios alongside the tracks between the two northern Italian cities.
According to Fluidmesh, the wireless system was initially tried with a high speed test train ETR500 owned by Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI, a Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane Group Company) travelling at 300kmh. Additional test-runs with a Trenitalia Frecciarossa ETR500 passenger train are scheduled for later this year.
In a scenario similar to the recent trials conducted by Amtrak in the US, Fluidmesh and its partners constructed a 70km long wireless wayside deployment to use as its test-track. In doing so, the RFI allowed it to use existing GSM-R masts which are installed at a distance of between 3km and 8km from each other.
Fluidmesh says that the results of the field-testing campaign, successfully demonstrate that its system, operating on license-free bands, does actually work over distances up to, and including, 8km. In addition, it argues that the fact that it can be “bolted on” to existing ERTMS and GSM-R infrastructure makes it a very cost-effective solution. By incorporating masts already in the ground, Fluidmesh argues it can help to connect European high speed trains to the Internet without having to rely solely on the often patchy coverage provided by public cellular networks.
The problem of how to improve trackside coverage was one of the main topics addressed at the recent WiFi on Trains Conference hosted by BWCS in London. There were several new announcements made during the Conference, all of which can be found at www.Traincomms2016.com . For more information about next year’s Conference, including speaking and sponsoring opportunities, please contact Ross.Parsons@BWCS.com .
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