VoLTE Performance in Railway Scenarios: Investigating VoLTE as a Viable Replacement for GSM-R

Global System for Mobile Communications-Railway (GSM-R) is the current standard for railway voice and data communication. It provides railway-specific voice services, such as railway emergency calls (RECs), as well as the European Train Control System (ETCS), which offers in-cab signaling and automatic train protection. Despite these features and services, GSM-R has major shortcomings. Therefore, alternative technologies are being considered to replace GSM-R and become the next-generation railway mobile communication network.