LTE-Based Wireless Broadband Train to Ground Network Performance in Metro Deployments

This paper presents the performance testing of a train to ground communications network deployed in an underground environment and based on 3GPP LTE wireless technology. A fully operational project was deployed in Zhengzhou, China in 2016, LTE Node-B have been installed in the tunnel, LTE terminals are deployed onboard in the train, working in 1785–1805 MHz band, with 10 MHz + 5 MHz dual-carrier configuration, a full test was executed and completed in Q3 2016, the feasibility and performance of LTE solution was verified and accepted. During the testing the train was moving among six stations with 7.6 km distance, the signal level received by the train wireless terminals, the throughput achieved between train and ground nodes, as well as the E-E latency are measured in the performance test.