New 5G technology for European railroads being developed in Belgrade

Global IoT and communication module provider Quectel Wireless Solutions has launched a new version of its 5G module (RG660Qx series) intended for the development of a future rail mobile communication system (FRMCS).

This technological news was officially announced from Belgrade, where the company’s European development center is located. The new module, developed on the Qualcomm platform, is a key link in the transition of European railroads from the outdated GSM-R system to modern 5G networks.

However, what makes this global news locally important is the fact that the Belgrade engineering team is directly involved in the development of software and support for the implementation of this technology.

What does this project mean for the engineering scene in Serbia?

Quectel’s European development center was opened in New Belgrade in 2020 and today employs a significant number of local experts, primarily electrical engineers and programmers focused on embedded systems.

For the domestic technology community, work on the FRMCS 5G standard brings several concrete benefits:

- Work on critical infrastructure: Domestic engineers in Belgrade have the opportunity to create software solutions for systems that depend on the safety and management of rail traffic across Europe.

- Cooperation with the academic community: Through work on such advanced modules, the company maintains cooperation with technical faculties in Serbia, providing students with insight into the latest industrial 5G standards.

- Creation of high-tech positions: Instead of developing simpler application software, the Belgrade center is positioning itself in the field of systems engineering and telecommunications, which increases the overall value of the local IT labor market.

When will the technology take root on our railroads?

FRMCS is designed as a standard that will become mandatory for all high-speed railroads in Europe by the end of this decade, enabling ultra-fast data transmission, better train automation, and advanced video surveillance and sensor systems.

Serbia is currently undergoing a process of intensive modernization and construction of its rail network. Although implementing a full 5G communication standard on railroads is a lengthy process that requires the installation of dedicated network infrastructure along the tracks, the fact that this technology is being developed and tested in Belgrade means that local experts will be among the first in the region to master these systems when their implementation on domestic railroads begins.

B. Petrovic

QUECTEL

Quectel Wireless Solutions

5G technology for railroads

FRMCS 5G

rail mobile communication system