Finland’s path towards FRMCS: commercial radio networks are key

Finland is making rapid progress towards the future FRMCS system by making use of commercial radio networks. The testing conducted in the Digirail project show that the solution is not only secure and interoperable, but also much faster to deploy and less costly than the traditional model based on a dedicated network; and this could bring Europe billions of euros in savings.

European railway transport is going through a period of major change, with ERTMS (European Rail Traffic Management System) and the future FRMCS (Future Railway Mobile Communication System) at the heart of it. In Finland, the development has proceeded with exceptional determination: the national ERTMS project Digirail was launched in spring 2019, and all the key operators in the railway sector have been involved from the very beginning.

The Finnish test environment has shown that commercial radio networks are suitable for critical rail connections without significant additional investment. Based on measuring conducted in 2022, the need for network upgrades is minimal. The key factor is the on-board multichannel router, which supports multiple frequencies, radio technologies and, in the future, also satellite and Wi-Fi connections. Thus, there is no need to build a separate 5G communications network, as using commercial networks has proven to be just as secure as a dedicated network in Digirail’s tests.

“In the Digirail project, we develop solutions not only for the railway networks in Finland but also for the entire European network. We are ready to share our experience, innovation and detailed technical specifications so that the whole of Europe can move towards a cost-effective and secure FRMCS future. A common European solution cannot be created without open collaboration, and in this, Finland is a pioneer,” says Simon Indola, Development Manager of the Digirail project, who presented the Finnish solution at the ERTMS Forum in November.

Two test tracks to test performance

Tests and studies carried out in Digirail show that railway communications can be carried out safely and efficiently using commercial mobile networks. Finland is testing the solutions on two test tracks:

• ETCS test track Kouvola–Kotka–Hamina (Baseline 3): One year of test cycles without any radio issues
• The first commercial track section Tampere–Pori/Rauma (Baseline 4): Under construction; testing to start in 10/2026

So there is already practical evidence in Finland that FRMCS can be implemented reliably and safely on commercial radio networks.

Negotiations with network operators are progressing, and the nationwide roll-out of the full system in Finland is planned for spring 2026.

Significant savings at EU level

Implementation based on commercial radio networks could save Europe more than EUR 10 billion. Operating costs consist of charges for the use of SIM cards, Access Point Nodes (APNs) and network monitoring data. The estimated annual cost for the entire rolling stock of 700 trains is less than EUR 1 million per year.

As there are no changes to the railway network, deployment will be exceptionally fast. In practice, implementation means activating and testing base station connections, so we are talking about days – not years.

Being able to avoid the construction of new infrastructure also saves the environment and reduces the project’s carbon footprint.

“Through testing done in Finland, we can show that the Finnish solution is equally secure and compatible in railway communications, and significantly faster and less costly to deploy. This has attracted interest elsewhere in Europe, as Finland has boldly taken the lead. Digirail is not only following developments closely, but is also building the future and leading the way forward for the entire railway sector,” Indola says.

The Digirail project is making rail transport in Finland safer, smoother and more efficient. The project is reinventing the outdated train control system and introducing a shared European radio-based train control system across the entire rail network. Digirail will enable safe transport, an improved service level and growth of capacity, and it will create a long-term technical foundation for Finnish railway traffic. The Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency, Fintraffic and the Ministry of Transport and Communications are collaborating in the project with other actors.