Brazil’s Rumo partners with Embratel to expand 4G coverage

Logistics company Rumo and telecom firm Embratel joined forces to expand the 4G broadband network coverage across the Santos region to support the operation of freight trains in the area. The project, phased in two stages, included the installation of 41 transmission antennas, which are already fully operational and spread over 41 kilometers. Lately, the region has taken great strides in train circulation, creating more autonomy and agile communication between the trains on the field and Rumo’s operational control center (OCC).

Rumo, which manages the country’s principal railway corridor, adopted the 4G network technology using Claro sim cards developed by Embratel. Its goal is to optimize the communication between trains and the CCO, reducing transit time and increasing logistical efficiency.

“Until recently, our cargo trains were connected via satellite transmission on the mountain range near Santos,” says Marco Andriola, Director of Railway Technology at Rumo. “Due to the local topography, the satellite connection signal does not offer good stability. In addition, the high density of trains complicates cargo flow in the area. Now, we have seen a reduction of about 97% in the time it takes to send information down to the CCO, which helped to decrease the idle time from 7 minutes to a few seconds in some cases. In addition, the new system provides gains in terms of safety since the crew can call upon aid more rapidly in the 41 kilometers of the mountain range.”

The robust network structure designed by Embratel allows for more agility in tracking trains in real-time. “There is a steep slope and a dense forest on the mountain stretch, where the only broadband connection available is 4G. Therefore, the project was designed together and according to Romo’s needs so that we could provide the best possible service to meet their demands. Thus, we offer a secure and stable connection to enable and encourage the digital transformation of Rumo’s operations,” says Gustavo Silbert, Executive Director of Embratel. In addition to the 4G connection, Embratel already provides several services on Rumo railways and locomotives throughout Brazil, such as Data Center, Cloud, Wi-Fi, P2P radio connection, equipment management, and monitoring.

Rumo also redesigned the interior of its trains to optimize wireless communication. As a result, the railway cars received equipment capable of capturing the 4G signal integrated with the satellite communication already used in the mountain range. “In addition to Embratel, an important partner in this project, we had the aid of Nokia, responsible for developing the mission-critical network solution for our trains,” says Marco Andriola.

Through Nokia’s system, Embratel’s intelligence, configured in the Cloud and hosted in the company’s Lapa Data Center, one of the most modern in the country, allows the self-assessment of which type of connection is most suitable during each stretch of the journey. This allows for an automatic change in connectivity mode when the car enters specific spots. Likewise, when the locomotive leaves those areas, a new connectivity pattern is set automatically if necessary.

“Mission-critical networks are critical to the digitization of the business environment. We have brought to Rumo a cost-effective, robust, and secure connectivity solution based on our global experience with over 2,200 customers with similar broadband wireless networks. “We are confident in the success of this new phase of the project and are ready to support our client’s business growth,” said Marcelo Entreconti, Director of Nokia Enterprise for Latin America.

The widened connection made it possible to install cameras in the train cabins owned by Rumo to keep monitoring patterns which, in the project’s next phase, will help implement A.I. and analytics. Using intelligent analysis, data can be generated to avoid emergencies and identify possible accidents, making it possible to determine, for example, signs of driver fatigue, etc. Based on Embratel’s fast and secure network, the use of cameras associated with Artificial Intelligence and Analytics will allow uninterrupted image analysis.

The objective is for the initiative to be expanded to other stretches of the mountain range and other Rumo operations.

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