Enhancing modern rail networks with connected on-board technologies from HUBER+SUHNER

To simplify deployment and maximise performance, HUBER+SUHNER offers the SENCITY® Rail ACTIVE antenna portfolio - a new generation of rooftop antennas which combine a 4x4 MIMO 5G cellular radio with an integrated compute module, all powered via a single PoE+ cable. 

This all-in-one design eliminates the need for separate gateways and RF cabling, streamlining hardware installation, and reducing system complexity with maximum level of performance.

Of course, bandwidth-intensive applications like video surveillance and passenger Wi-Fi also demand a very robust and scalable onboard network infrastructure. Internet Onboard System (IOS) based on optical fiber backbones are pivotal here as they deliver greater reliability and sustainability to operators.

Solutions offered by HUBER+SUHNER, such as fiber optic assemblies and railway ethernet switches, are uniquely designed to enable high-performance, seamless connectivity for on-board devices. For example, our new Railway Ethernet Switch series provides optimal connectivity with unmatched reliability. By supporting PoE++ (IEEE802.3bt Type 4), they can provide up to 90W per port and a scalable total PoE budget up to 250W, enabling power and data transmission for high-consumption devices like cameras, access points and our active rooftop antennas.

With 24 user ports and up to six 10Gbit uplinks, all accessible via front-facing M12 push-pull connectors, installation is fast and space-efficient. Advanced management protocols and a sophisticated operating system ensure automated configuration and easy integration into new and existing network platforms.

One of the best examples of this FO backbone in action is the work HUBER+SUHNER did with Alstom before the 2024 Paris Olympics. With millions of spectators expected to flood the city's transport networks, Alstom carried out a revamp of key transportation routes connecting Paris to wider Europe and helped deliver 115 new Avelia high-speed trains ahead of the Games.

Once brought into the project, HUBER+SUHNER developed several solutions, including the latest antennas from the SENCITY® Rail portfolio for high-data-rate transmission required for in-carriage Wi-Fi and passenger information systems. Inter-vehicle jumper systems were also required to ensure seamless communications even in difficult conditions. Underpinned by a tailored FO backbone, our offerings helped Alstom provide commuters with fast and reliable Internet connections and services during their way to and from the Games.