The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) hit a major milestone in safety and security when it received final approval to acquire exclusive rights to radio spectrum needed to operate future communications systems for its trains.
The agreement with Access 700, LLC, a subsidiary of Access Spectrum, LLC, for 1/1 MHz of 700 MHz capacity within MEA 044, which covers the lower half of the state of California, is critical for the development of secure and reliable train communication systems. These systems include features like Positive Train Control (PTC), a state-of-the art collision avoidance technology that allows trains, tracks and dispatch centers to actively communicate with each other. Radio spectrum is also needed to monitor train conditions and diagnostics and to operate security systems along the high-speed rail system. CHSRA also acquired the identical spectrum capacity from BPC Spectrum LLC within MEA 043, which covers the northern half of the state of California.
EWA, through its subsidiary Spectrum Equity, Inc. (SEI) and its relationship with Access Spectrum, played a role in introducing the parties and facilitating these spectrum transactions.