By hosting the 5th edition of the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) Plugtests at its Paris headquarters, UIC confirms its role as the global hub for innovation and interoperability in railway communications. This event represents a decisive milestone on the pathway towards deploying FRMCS, the future digital, secure and interoperable communications system for railways, with a clear roadmap aiming at Version 3 Specifications by the end of 2027.

Organised by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) and coordinated by UIC, the Plugtests bring together around 105 international experts from nearly 45 companies, who test the interoperability and maturity of their existing solutions. Key topics include FRMCS over 5G, Mission Critical Border Crossing and interworking between FRMCS and GSM-R, ensuring seamless transition and operational continuity.

FRMCS, the GSM-R successor, is on its way. Version 1 specifications have been included in 2023 CCS TSI. Since December 2024, UIC has also launched MORANE-2, the European demonstrator for FRMCS deployment, reinforcing the collective effort towards large-scale implementation. UIC plans to make available V3 specifications end of 2027, which will define the FRMCS 1st Edition.

During the week, UIC headquarters will operate as the global railway high-tech centre, with 32 observers from railways, safety authorities and critical communications organisations onsite to monitor progress and anticipate deployment strategies. Test and demo sessions will be running throughout the entire week.

Through this Plugtests edition, UIC reaffirms its leadership in driving the digital transformation of railways, fostering global collaboration, and shaping the future of mission-critical communication for a safer, more efficient and interoperable railway system.