PTC Backhaul Communications
Enable Ubiquitous ITCM Connectivity Anywhere on the Railroad
ITCM (Interoperable Train Control Messaging) is a custom messaging solution initially developed for Positive Train Control that enables a network to exchange data no matter how or where messages are sent. ITCM was designed for transport over a narrowband radio network or any available IP path. As an 802.16t network allows for over-the-air transport of IP messages, our FullMAX™ portfolio of radios can be used for reliable ITCM transport across any available spectrum. This enables railroads to leverage their investment in PTC for applications across the railroad and unlock a wide range of benefits, including:
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Deployment of ITCM to non-PTC equipped locations
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Primary and / or backup communications link for wayside PTC traffic ("PTC backhaul")
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Elimination of single-points of failure in CTC-over-ITCM applications by maintaining redundant links for both CTC and PTC traffic
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Offloading of PTC traffic from 220 MHz to other spectrum while operating in crowded, congested areas
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Utilize any available spectrum - such as 160 MHz - to deploy ITCM to non-PTC assets such as defect detectors and crossing recorders
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Eliminate recurring costs associated with cell and satellite links by transitioning to an IP-based 802.16t private network
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Migration of ITCM-based applications to the 900 MHz A Block in order to meet the upcoming FCC mandate
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Extend the corporate LAN to every wayside location as ITCM is deployed over an 802.16t network
ITCM over 802.16t Radio Stack
Leverage Your Investment in PTC
An 802.16t radio network enables ITCM to be deployed across any frequency band, allowing it to extend to any location regardless of whether 220 MHz coverage exists. As 802.16t utilizes standard IP to transport ITCM messages, railroads can leverage the investment they’ve already made in the PTC communications network to promote the usage of ITCM over any other AAR-owned spectrum. This capability is especially useful to integrate CTC, defect detectors, and wireless crossing activation messages into the PTC network.
Eliminate Single Points of Failure in the 220 MHz Network
As part of the “traditional” method of migrating CTC to operate over the 220 MHz network, single points of failure are introduced which can render both PTC and CTC unavailable in certain failure scenarios. An Airlink WCP 802.16t radio deployed at a control point can eliminate this single point of failure, providing railroads with maximum redundancy and flexibility in communication with their PTC and CTC assets
Deploy ITCM to Non-PTC Locations
While the ITCM was initially developed to support the deployment of Positive Train Control in the United States, it is designed to be flexible to support a variety of other applications such as CTC and systems management and reporting. An 802.16t network can be utilized to migrate non-PTC equipped control points to the new 900 MHz A Block instead of the increasingly crowded 220 MHz network. This not only supports the railroads planned buildout on the new A Block, but provides railroads with a more cost-effective solution to migrate off the legacy ATCS network without building new 220 MHz infrastructure.
Deploy ITCM Over Any Frequency
The 802.16t specification was developed specifically for mission-critical industries such as railroads which operate on licensed, narrowband frequencies. This unlocks the capability for ITCM to be deployed on any AAR owned frequency, including 160 MHz, 220 MHz, 450 MHz, or 900 MHz. The railroads can now look at the potential for ITCM deployment as truly ubiquitous – no longer confined to deployment over the crowded 220 MHz spectrum or to costly cellular or satellite.
Enhanced Redundancy and Reliability for Wayside CTC and PTC Applications
The Siemens Airlink WCP - powered by Ondas Networks' FullMAX™ technology - provides a wide array of connectivity options to incorporate Wayside Interface Units (WIUs) and vital logic controllers into 802.16t networks. Airlink WCP is designed to provide railroads with a flexible and secure CTC-over-ITCM solution that eliminates single points of failure associated with other approaches.
Internal and External Field Gateway
Integrate legacy vital signal processors into ITCM without hardware changes in the field
Wayside locations can be moved to the A Block independently without disrupting operations
