• The exclusive 700 MHz spectrum band will be utilised by association members.
• Various Railway communications will be covered by the pilot.
• Railways will share their current network, including its spectrum.

According to a senior official of trade organisation VoICE, Indian Railways has given a group of telecom equipment manufacturers permission to test a 5G mobile communication network between the Palwal and Mathura stations.

Director General of the Voice of Indian Communication Technology Enterprises (VoICE), R K Bhatnagar, told PTI that the association's members would implement 5G technology using the exclusive 700 MHz spectrum band made accessible by Indian Railways.
Indian Railways has invited VoICE to establish a 5G-based mobile communication network in a consortium form over the 82-kilometer Palwal-Mathura sector of the 700 MHz band as a Proof of Concept. The goal for implementation is nine to twelve months. The association's members will be able to grow their businesses and take advantage of the Indian Railways' Rs. 59,000 crore modernization plan thanks to the successful experiment.

'Railways will share their current network, including its spectrum. The cost to Railways is zero 'explained Bhatnagar. The pilot will encompass a variety of railway communications, including mission-critical push-to-talk, group cast mass notification, emergency communication, gate phone, and contact between train controller/station master and driver/guard.

Mission It will also include crucial services like floor control, audio and video broadcast, push-to-talk services, and special priority calls. The first 5G trial for a business network will be carried out by Indian telecom equipment manufacturers.

'With the exception of HFCL, most VoICE members are minor players. VoICE aims to assist domestic telecom companies led by Indian designers in pursuing comparable initiatives for the Indian Army, private 5G enterprise networks, 'added Bhatnagar.