Lithuanian Railways Awards Nortel, Belam €50.5 Million Wireless Communications Contract

Lithuanian Railways Awards Nortel, Belam €50.5 Million Wireless Communications Contract

Lithuanian Railways has chosen a Nortel* [NYSE/TSX: NT] wireless communications network solution to enhance its railway communications and ensure compatibility of the Lithuanian national railway with international railway standards. Nortel’s partner, Belam, is acting as the local partner for the implementation and construction of the project which will be completed in 2010.

The €50.5 million (€59.6 million including VAT) contract includes the implementation of a GSM-R radio communication system along more than 1,563 kilometres (approximately 88% of the country’s rail network) of Lithuania’s rail routes. This is the first GSM-R network implementation in the Baltic region. The project is partially funded by the European Community Cohesion Fund for European regional development.

European Union member Lithuania is the first of the Baltic countries to deploy a GSM-R solution.

Nortel’s GSM-R solution is highly flexible in terms of supporting signalling systems from different vendors, one of the most important factors for communications interoperability. The solution for Lithuanian Railways can also support the European Train Control System (ETCS) which is a signalling, control and train protection system designed to replace incompatible safety systems in European Railways and is aimed at enhancing the safety and security of rail users on trains that cross country borders.

“Nortel is helping Lithuanian Railways transition to EC railway standards in order to provide a high-speed dependable communication network that makes our railways in Lithuania faster and safer and more reliable than before,” said Laisvydas Rudzianskas GSM-R project manager, Lithuanian Railways.

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