The 5th FRMCS (Future Railway Mobile Communication System) Plugtests—ETSI's interoperability validation event—successfully concluded on 31 October after five days of intensive testing in Paris.

The 5th FRMCS (Future Railway Mobile Communication System) Plugtests—ETSI's interoperability validation event—successfully concluded on 31 October after five days of intensive testing in Paris. Beijing Jiaxun Feihong Electrical Co., Ltd. ("Jiaxun Feihong," stock code: 300213), a core contributor to global railway communications infrastructure, participated in comprehensive multi-scenario interoperability verification for three device categories: the MCX (Mission-Critical Services) Client, MCX Application Server (AS), and dispatcher terminal.

Organised by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) and co-sponsored by the European Union (EU), European Free Trade Association (EFTA), The Critical Communications Association (TCCA), and the International Union of Railways (UIC), this critical pre-deployment validation attracted over 105 technical specialists from 45 leading railway operators, equipment manufacturers, and industry organisations worldwide. The event aimed to verify cross-vendor interoperability under FRMCS specifications, establishing the foundation for the complete migration from legacy GSM-R systems.

5G-Native FRMCS: The Cornerstone of Railway Digitalisation

The evolution towards intelligent railways—driven by bandwidth-intensive applications such as video surveillance and autonomous operation—has rendered GSM-R's narrowband technology inadequate. Consequently, the EU has mandated FRMCS, a 5G-based system defined by 3GPP standards, as the successor to GSM-R. Tailored specifically for railway operations, FRMCS will underpin next-generation communications and signalling systems including the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS), addressing escalating demands and serving as the core enabler of global railway digitalisation and intelligent transformation.

Built on universal 3GPP 5G technology, FRMCS delivers:

Enhanced data rates and capacity: Supporting high-volume data transmission to enable novel applications in train control, diagnostics, and maintenance;

Ultra-low latency: Facilitating near-real-time communications essential for advanced train control and safety-critical applications;

Superior reliability and availability: Ensuring continuous, robust connectivity for safer and more efficient operations;

Support for innovative service models: Empowering applications such as line-of-sight extension, real-time video monitoring, and predictive maintenance;

Future-proof evolution: Facilitating seamless transition to next-generation mobile technologies through its 3GPP-standardised architecture.

Europe has already allocated dedicated spectrum for FRMCS, with the first implementable release—FRMCS V3—scheduled for publication by end-2027. UIC is actively coordinating global standardisation, testing, and deployment activities through its FRMCS platform to explore worldwide application prospects.

This Plugtests focused on solution maturity and interoperability, addressing core topics including 5G-based FRMCS applications, mission-critical cross-border communications, and FRMCS-GSM-R interworking to ensure seamless migration and operational continuity.

Jiaxun Feihong: Validated Against Global State-of-the-Art

Successful participation demonstrates that Jiaxun Feihong's R&D capabilities in next-generation mission-critical communications meet international advanced benchmarks. Through sustained innovation in private communications, the company has become a pivotal force advancing global FRMCS standardisation and commercialisation.

To address complex scenarios including multi-vendor interconnection and cross-border handover, Jiaxun Feihong's R&D team commenced test preparations one year in advance, conducting interface standard analysis, test case development, and adapter optimisation to resolve technical challenges. During pre-testing and formal validation phases, the team collaborated across time zones with international partners, rapidly iterating solutions and ensuring successful completion of all interoperability test suites.

From laboratory development to global validation, Jiaxun Feihong adheres to "ultimate reliability" as its benchmark, embodying a craftsmanship spirit of continuous refinement. Every data point reflects countless iterations, contributing Chinese technical expertise to global railway communications.

International Deployment and Future Roadmap

Jiaxun Feihong has actively promoted FRMCS solution adoption worldwide, with commercial deployments on Malaysia's East Coast Rail Link and South Africa's PRASA core network modernisation programme, accelerating global railway digitalisation alongside industry partners.

This achievement marks a significant milestone, accumulating invaluable standards compliance verification experience and advancing FRMCS ecosystem maturity toward large-scale commercialisation. Jiaxun Feihong will continue deepening R&D investment, actively participating in subsequent FRMCS testing and standard development, collaborating with global partners to accelerate next-generation railway communications deployment and power the construction of a safer, more efficient, and intelligent global railway network.