Unlike the UMTS systems, which have already started to be decommissioned in the 2020s, GSM-R benefited from a significant installed base, prompting vendors to continue production until a predetermined end date.
Consequently, the International Union of Railways (UIC) has decided to make a significant technological leap by adopting 5G NR mobile networks for FRMCS, bypassing the interim LTE-R proposal.
The "5G Rail" testing project, initiated in November 2020 and slated for completion in 2023, led to the publication of a preliminary standard draft at the end of 2022, with finalization expected in early 2023.
Railway operators are actively preparing for FRMCS implementation, focusing on evaluating base station locations to accommodate the system's increased requirements.
[5] A number of FRMCS-ready 5G and LTE networks for railway communications are also being deployed outside Europe, including in Australia, South Korea and India.