Network vendor Nokia has won a contract to bolster the Netherlands' national railway network infrastructure.

The company announced this week that it's working with ProRail, the company responsible for the country's national railway network infrastructure.

As part of the partnership, Nokia said it will deploy a cloud-native Global System for Mobile Communications for Railway (GSM-R) core network, which it claims to be a global first for the rail industry.

ProRail will be able to boost safety and service reliability for millions of passengers through the migration of its GSM-R core network, while paving the way for Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) networks.

Nokia said the upgrades will be carried out over the next four years as part of a modernization project, that will also extend the life of ProRail’s existing 2G infrastructure.

According to Nokia, the project will support ProRail to "improve its railway services, decrease downtime, integrate new technologies as they emerge, reduce long-term total ownership costs, make seamless decisions, and improve operational efficiency through real-time data exchange."

During the course of the partnership, Nokia noted that it will supply, install, and maintain its Nokia Cloud Platform, which is a fully cloud-native core infrastructure that includes the Nokia Assurance Center, Packet Core (Cloud Mobility Manager, Cloud Mobility Gateway), Registers, Intelligent Network, and Data Center Fabric.

The project also includes upgrades to MantaRay NM, which is Nokia's network management system. On top of this, Nokia will provide Archive Cloud for automated network element backup and restore, and Nokia Network Services Platform for automating IP, optical, and microwave networks.

"Railways are a cornerstone of green and efficient mobility. By beginning the transition to a cloud-native architecture, ProRail is ensuring its communication systems remain secure, reliable, and open to future innovation," said Emanuele Di Liberto, head of global rail business, Nokia.

Back in 2022, Nokia was awarded a contract to supply its 5G-ready equipment to provide IP and private wireless connectivity to Paris’ metro network.