1. Risk assessment GSM-R blocking
to support the coordination process in the Netherlands
Loek Colussi
June 30, 2014

2. Coordination agreement
technical committee: UMTS/LTE900 will increase probability of blocking/intemodulation
agreement between MNOs, GSM-R operator and regulator
interim solution  sustainable solution mid 2015
no legal basis, appeal on social engagement
single points of contact
valid until July 1st 2015
June 30, 2014

3. Coordination process Before site activation
information to regulator >1 week prior to activation
base stations within 500 m from railway track
probability of blocking  software tool/modeling & field measurements
impact analysis  ‘severity map’ from GSM-R operator
After site activation
active monitoring by GSM-R operator
report interference to MNO and regulator
severe disturbance  switch off site/sector within 4 hours
moderate disturbance  mitigation
June 30, 2014

4. Pre-activation coordination process
June 30, 2014

5. Post-activation interference management
June 30, 2014

6. Risk of blocking/intermodulation
Risk = Probability x Impact
Probability of blocking determined by:
simulations with coordination tool, translated to geografic picture
measurements from railway
detailed inspection
feedback from field
Impact of blocking determined by :
annoyance/danger to be predicted
location (station, shunt, port)
expected train speed
application of ERTMS
June 30, 2014

7. Coordination tool ‘proportional method’
all block of MNO filled with UMTS
GSM-R on highest channel (924.8 MHz)
single MNO basestation (Tier 0)
rural & suburban HATA propagation model
fixed distance between GSM-R basestations
good & bad radios
with & without filters
Tx power of MNO
June 30, 2014

8. Model GSM-R radio
June 30, 2014

9. Simulations with coordination tool
rural
suburban
June 30, 2014

10. Translation to geografic picture
for each 100 m railway bin:
what is the distance to the nearest MNO basestation?
what is the distance to the nearest GSM-R basestation?
is the protection distance jeopardized?
June 30, 2014

11. Geotool GSM-R: all basestations MNO: < 500 m from track
analysis resolution: 100 m
= GSM-R
= KPN
= T-Mobile
= Vodafone
= blocking
June 30, 2014

12. June 30, 2014

13. Measurements
June 30, 2014

14. Risk assessment Low risk:
small chance of blocking according to simulation and measurement
outside area of potential risk
expected range of disturbance short
special railway provisions
High risk:
large chance of blocking according to simulation or measurement
inside area of potential risk
expected range of disturbance large
cumulation of signals
June 30, 2014

15. Example: high risk
June 30, 2014

16. Example: low risk
June 30, 2014

17. Example: high or low risk?
June 30, 2014