The Public Transport Authority of Western Australia (PTA) has awarded a contract to build and maintain digital radio systems across Perth’s rail network to a Huawei-UGL joint venture (JV).
The A$136 million project for an end-to-end digital radio solution across PTA’s 180km rail network – and the new Forrestfield Airport Link twin tunnels – will begin later this month, with completion scheduled for 2021.
The JV will design, install and commission the service and maintain the new digital radio system for an initial period of five years from completion. Options for a further five plus five years are also included.
As part of the contract, local Western Australia steel and labour will be used for fabricating, assembling and testing outdoor cabinets and towers.
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More than 50 WA-based staff, including local subcontractors, will be employed during the 40 month design and build period.
The new systems will operate over a 3GPP LTE network using the PTA’s existing 1800MHz spectrum.
Huawei Australia chair John Lord said: “We are modernising the Australian transportation sector through digital technologies developed for the global market.
“We have been providing similar communications technology services to Sydney Trains and Ambulance NSW safely and securely for nearly a decade.
“We thank the PTA for the trust they have placed in Huawei and their support for WA local businesses, as we work closely together over the coming years to realise this substantial project.”
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