GE Transportation and Qualcomm Announces Next Generation Rail Communications System
GE Transportation has announced a collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies Inc. to equip locomotives with new communications enhancements that will help make trains smarter and better connected. Unveiled at InnoTrans 2018, GE’s planned upgrades to GoLINC wireless technology will improve operations, enable higher availability connectivity for locomotives and other rail assets around the world, and increase efficiency by integrating best-in-class embedded wireless technology.
GE’s GoLINC system, comprising networking, communications and applications management platforms, can turn any railroad asset into a mobile data center. These platforms are designed to use Qualcomm Snapdragon X16 LTE modems featuring LTE Advanced Pro capabilities, paving the way to 5G in the future. With modems using Qualcomm technology, GE Transportation will be able to take advantage of newer LTE features, including using LTE in unlicensed spectrum and private LTE options, which in turn will allow GoLINC customers to take advantage of higher throughput speeds to receive actionable data.
“Our collaboration delivers the most advanced wireless solutions across the rail industry to increase availability and create a smarter rail ecosystem,” said Laurie Tolson, chief digital officer, GE Transportation. “It will enable our customers to take advantage of cutting-edge wireless technology to increase analytic opportunities with higher data speeds and secure data paths.”
More capable communications interfaces on the GoLINC platform, utilizing both on-board and off-board GE and third-party systems, can be used to create a powerful EdgeLINC-enabled device. GE Transportation’s EdgeLINC allows decision making through an industry-leading rules engine at the edge. In addition to edge decision making, EdgeLINC can also perform device management, utilizing communications paths when it is appropriate to do so.
“This platform enhancement to the GoLINC mobile data center will bring the latest LTE technologies to industrial and rugged platforms,” said Vieri Vanghi, vice president, product management, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “As edge computing and connectivity become more and more important to optimizing operations, we look forward to continuing this collaboration with GE Transportation to help transform the railway industry and enable customers with the latest technologies.”
With a deep understanding of the rail industry challenges its customers face, GE Transportation is committed to increasing and enhancing its connected suite of capabilities to help customers extend locomotive life, lower fuel consumption, decrease emissions, increase velocity and improve operating ratios.
