EU sets up expert group on satellite use in ERTMS
The EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) said on Feb. 18 the EU has set up an expert group to assess whether satellite communications could support safety-related connectivity for ERTMS and the sector’s future migration to FRMCS.
The group brings together EUSPA, Europe’s Rail, the EU Agency for Railways and the European Commission, building on earlier trials of space-enabled rail communications.
Its immediate task is to map the technical, operational and regulatory conditions for any satellite role in safety-related rail telecoms, particularly where terrestrial coverage is weak or costly to extend.
What the expert group will examine
A core question is whether satellite services can provide a complementary channel for safety-related data on lines with limited terrestrial networks, including regional and cross-border routes where continuous coverage is harder to guarantee.
The group will also assess interoperability and authorisation, including how any satellite component would align with existing safety, signalling and approval frameworks, with ERA expected to contribute on standardisation.
Implications for FRMCS migration
The initiative comes as the sector prepares to replace GSM-R over time with the Future Railway Mobile Communication System. The expert group will examine where satellite links could fit into the future communications architecture as a supplementary channel rather than a substitute for terrestrial systems.
Any conclusions are positioned as guidance inputs for EU-funded rail programmes. The work is framed as an assessment phase, not a deployment decision.