Taiwanese network platform provider Nexcom and Japanese 5G wireless communication specialist Hytec Inter announced at MWC in Barcelona a joint rail communications system to support mission-critical rail operations using a unified hybrid 5G architecture.

The offering targets rail environments where continuous connectivity is required across tunnels, remote areas and mixed public-private network coverage, without service interruption under high mobility. During MWC, the two companies also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), marking a milestone in their shared commitment to advancing global 5G innovation.

The collaboration brings together Nexcom’s ISA 141 dual 5G onboard user equipment with Hytec Inter’s private 5G, enabling seamless handover between networks through dual SIM dual active (DSDA) operation. The approach is intended to support safety-critical control, real-time monitoring and operational communications within a single physical network.

The announcement comes as rail operators and system integrators face growing pressure to support communications-based train control (CBTC) systems while preparing for the industry’s transition toward the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS), making legacy rail communication architectures difficult to scale and maintain under evolving requirements.

“Rail communications are moving beyond coverage alone towards deterministic, always-on connectivity,” said Allan Chiu, vice president at Nexcom. “By deploying dual 5G onboard connectivity, this provides a practical foundation for mission-critical rail systems today and future FRMCS evolution.”

Asao Norihito, CEO of Hytec Inter, added: “In critical rail infrastructure, every network transition represents a potential point of failure. Our joint solution is built to eliminate those gaps by enabling mission-critical services to operate on a unified 5G infrastructure engineered for uninterrupted performance and predictable behaviour.”

The system is designed for deployment across metro, regional, intercity and high-speed rail networks and is positioned as a scalable platform for intelligent rail operations and critical infrastructure communications. For more details of how this works, see ebook.nexcom.com/Application-Story/Dual-5G-Handover-for-Mission-Critical-Rail-Transit.pdf.

Founded in 1992 and headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, Nexcom (www.nexcom.com) delivers platforms for cyber security, OT security, SD-WAN, SASE, load balancing, 5G uCPE, edge AI and more.

Founded in 1998, Hytec Inter (hytecinter.com) develops industrial communications for mission-critical industries, including government, infrastructure, energy and transportation. The Japanese firm has offices in Taiwan and South Korea as well as global partnerships.