Nokia tech to support Parisian metro rail project

Nokia has announced that the Société du Grand Paris (SGP) will deploy the company’s 5G-ready IP/MPLS multiservice, mobile core and radio access network (RAN) solutions to support the implementation of four automated train lines that link 200 km of Paris and up to 2 million passengers a day. The contract builds on Nokia’s relationship with SGP following the deployment of an LTE wireless network system to provide critical network connectivity across three of the new Paris metro lines.

The Grand Paris Express, the future metro of Greater Paris, is set to be the largest metro rail project in Europe. With 200 km of rail network, the project includes the creation of four new lines (15, 16, 17 and 18) around Paris, the extension of line 14, the construction of 68 new metro stations and the development of new neighbourhoods around these future urban centres.

The Nokia solutions include a state-of-the-art, multi-service IP/MPLS high-speed network to support all Grand Paris Express operational and maintenance requirements. The private mobile radio solution is designed for operational communications and indoor/outdoor connectivity across all Grand Paris Express stations, lines and depots. Mission-critical application requirements across the four lines will be supported by the multi-service IP/MPLS network.

The highly secure IP/MPLS communications network will operate as a powerful, high-speed backbone that increases operational efficiency, enhances safety and improves the passenger experience. High-speed communication between the centralised control centre and the automated stations, lines and depots it supervises is key to daily operations and maintenance, and an important component in realising SGP’s cybersecurity strategy.

With real-time video surveillance inside the trains, centralised operations teams can quickly identify and flag issues and threats, accelerate response times and assure greater safety overall for passengers, emergency response teams and employees. For travellers, the new communications system promises superior levels of service, with intuitive ticketing and enhanced updates regarding passenger information.

“These projects provide critical high-speed connectivity and performance at all points within the new Grand Paris metro and its operations, giving SGP the highest levels of confidence in its end-to-end Nokia network,” said Matthieu Bourguignon, Vice President Enterprise Europe Sales at Nokia. “We are incredibly proud to be selected by SGP as a supplier and excited to deploy our world-leading wireless access, IP/MPLS routing and mobile core solutions as a part of this ambitious project to digitally transform one of Europe’s largest rail systems.”

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