Ericsson has been selected by the Queensland Government to provide the mission-critical private 5G communications platform for the first phase of The Wave, a major rail infrastructure program designed to modernize public transport between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.

Working alongside rail engineering specialist UGL Transport and mission-critical communications provider Frequentis, Ericsson will deliver the 5G-enabled Digital Radio System (DRS) that will form the communications backbone of Queensland's next-generation railway network.

Awarded under Stage 1 of The Wave program, the Digital Radio System will initially be deployed along the Sunshine Coast rail corridor and will provide the communications infrastructure required to support the rollout of the European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2, the next-generation digital signalling platform being delivered by Alstom. The project represents a significant milestone in Australia's railway digital transformation strategy and is expected to enhance operational safety, service reliability and network capacity.

As the project's 5G technology partner, Ericsson will design, supply, integrate, test and commission a mission-critical private 5G network covering Sector 1 North of the South-East Queensland rail network. The deployment includes a dedicated private 5G Radio Access Network (RAN), a geographically redundant 5G Core, and cloud infrastructure powered by Ericsson's Integrated Core Solution to ensure the high availability required for critical railway operations.

The network will operate using Band n101 (1900 MHz spectrum) and has been engineered to support future migration toward the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS), the global next-generation railway communications standard being adopted by rail operators worldwide. In addition to enabling ETCS Level 2, the platform will support future Mission Critical Services (MCX), advanced operational applications, voice, video and data communications, and interoperability with Australia's National Network for Interoperability.

The first operational section of the Digital Radio System will be delivered along the Sunshine Coast Line, supporting Queensland's broader rail modernization initiative while preparing transport infrastructure for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The communications network is scheduled to be operational ahead of passenger services supporting the international sporting event.

The Digital Radio System contract forms one of four major work packages within Queensland's broader Stage 1 procurement program for The Wave.

Ludvig Landgren, Head of Ericsson, Australia and New Zealand says: "This is a significant moment for digital rail in Australia. Ericsson's mission-critical private 5G platform will underpin Queensland's next-generation rail communications network, supporting safer operations and enabling the introduction of European Train Control System Level 2 digital train control. We are proud to be part of the team delivering this critical infrastructure for Queensland and for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games."

The deployment further strengthens Ericsson's position in mission-critical private 5G networks while demonstrating the growing role of 5G technologies in supporting railway modernization, digital signalling and the transition toward FRMCS across Australia and the wider Asia-Pacific region.