Enabling Europe’s migration from GSM R to FRMCS: Building the RF foundation for the digital rail era

This transition is ambitious, multi‑year, and complex. GSM‑R will not disappear overnight; instead, both systems will operate in parallel across most European networks for several years.  On top, FRMCS shall support fallback to public 5G networks or satellite communication, whenever FRMSC is not available. For infrastructure managers, operators, and OEMs, this means that a resilient, interoperable, and future‑ready RF foundation is essential to ensure a smooth migration.

At ANDREW, we’ve been part of the telecom industry for more than 85 years, and at the heart of mission‑critical communication infrastructure. Today, we play a key role in helping Europe prepare for this shift.

Why FRMCS is reshaping the RF landscape

FRMCS brings new capabilities and new spectrum — including 900 MHz and 1900 MHz bands — to support modern digital rail operations. But deploying new technology within existing infrastructure poses some challenges. Towers were often designed for single‑technology systems. Trackside environments are exposed to wind, vibration, and extreme weather. Many stations and tunnels require specialized radio patterns to deliver clean, predictable coverage.

Operators must also ensure that FRMCS and commercial mobile networks can coexist without interference, especially as both systems operate in close proximity across Europe.

These challenges highlight one truth: the RF layer will determine the success of the FRMCS migration. It must support GSM‑R continuity, enable new FRMCS services, trouble-free site sharing with 5G, and remain reliable for decades.

ANDREW’s role: delivering the RF foundation for FRMCS

FRMCS migration implies different steps. It starts with the physical radio layer — antennas, filters, connectivity, and site infrastructure — that carries critical communication signals along thousands of kilometers of railway.

ANDREW delivers this RF foundation across on‑train, trackside, station, and tunnel environments. Our solution portfolio is built on three key strengths:

1. Complete RF infrastructure offering

We provide all the RF components essential for a safe and efficient FRMCS rollout, including:

• A large portfolio of antennas for train station, wide area, and tunnel coverage with different horizontal beam widths, antenna gain and size —including 33° horizontal beamwidth antennas optimized for track coverage
• High‑selectivity RF conditioning filters that enable site sharing between FRMCS and mobile operators while protecting the performance of both networks
• HELIAX^® connectivity, globally recognized for its unmatched reliability, low loss, and long‑term durability
• Outdoor enclosures and robust monopole solutions designed for railway environments

This comprehensive offering ensures consistent performance, simplifies deployments, and reduces engineering complexity.

2. Telecom expertise and European presence

With 85+ years of telecom innovation and over 50 years of continuous presence in Europe, with a proven record to deploy our solutions in the railway environment, ANDREW combines global experience with local support. We have supported operators through every generation of mobile technology — from 2G to 5G — and we bring this engineering depth directly into the rail domain.

Our involvement in European FRMCS validation activities, including MORANE 2 trials, allows us to deliver solutions that are tested, trusted, and ready for real‑world conditions.

3. Solutions designed for railway realities

Rail networks operate in demanding environments: long linear corridors, tunnels, bridges, stations, and exposed trackside sites. Our solutions are engineered specifically for these conditions.

ANDREW’s antennas deliver predictable and well‑shaped coverage along straight tracks and more open areas. Our filters mitigate interference in complex spectrum environments. Our site solutions withstand harsh outdoor conditions. And our OEM‑independent approach ensures seamless integration with all major FRMCS radio suppliers — allowing operators to evolve at their own pace.

Shaping the future of railway communications

Europe’s migration from GSM‑R to FRMCS represents a major step toward safer, smarter, and more connected railways. The RF layer is the critical element of this evolution — and building it right is essential.

With a complete RF portfolio, unmatched telecom expertise, strong European presence, and solutions designed explicitly for railway environments, ANDREW is ready to support operators in shaping the next generation of railway communication systems.

Building tomorrow’s digital rail starts with the right RF foundation. Together, we can make that future a reality.