Research-backed. Field-proven. Migration-ready. 

The shift from GSM-R to the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) is transforming railway communication across Europe. Frequentis unites research leadership with real-world implementation expertise and a FRMCS service stratum enabling railway organisations to manage the transition to FRMCS safely, pragmatically and with confidence. FRMCS is coming. The time to start preparing is now.

A strategic transformation – not a simple upgrade

GSM-R decommissioning is approaching, and the transition to FRMCS is accelerating across Europe. FRMCS introduces IP-based, broadband mission-critical communication built on open 3GPP standards – enabling real-time voice, data and multimedia services without compromising safety or interoperability. This is not a simple technology refresh. It is a controlled transformation of railway communication architecture into a future-ready, IP-based mission-critical communication ecosystem. 

What changes. What stays. 

• What changes: Migration from 2G GSM-R to 5G networks and 3GPP Mission Critical Services (MCX). 
• What stays: Mission-critical voice, operational safety, cross-border interoperability and high availability. 

FRMCS represents evolution with continuity – but it requires phased, risk-managed migration. 

Phased migration with built-in continuity 

With more than 130,000 km of GSM-R infrastructure in Europe, the transition must be staged and controlled. Private 5G rollout and infrastructure upgrades demand multi-year coexistence between GSM-R and FRMCS. Migration spans onboard systems, trackside infrastructure, and control rooms. Starting early is essential to manage complexity and safeguard operational continuity.

Tested in laboratory, proven in field

Frequentis actively contributes to European research and standardisation initiatives shaping FRMCS, including close cooperation within Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking and UNITEL (UNIFE). As a partner in the Horizon Europe FP2-MORANE2 research project, we support large-scale validation of FRMCS within the ERTMS context – from laboratory testing to live field trials. 

But innovation does not stop at validation. Frequentis has delivered mission-critical communication solutions operating in live environments today. These customer deployments demonstrate that 3GPP standard-based mission-critical services are not only technically compliant, but fully capable of meeting the demanding requirements of safety-critical railway operations. FRMCS is more than future-ready – it is operationally proven.

How Frequentis supports your route to FRMCS 

The Frequentis FRMCS service stratum enables:

• Secure, high-availability mission-critical communication
• Seamless interworking between GSM-R and FRMCS
• Software-defined, flexible deployment models
• Structured, phased migration with built-in continuity 

With experience supporting railway organisations in more than 25 countries and proven customer references, Frequentis enables operators to reduce risk while accelerating digitalisation.

FRMCS is coming. The question is not if – but how. 

Contact our experts to receive your brand-new FRMCS whitepaper or discuss how our solutions could translate to your context: frmcs@frequentis.com.