International Cooperation Project in Science and Technology Innovation
The International Cooperation Project in Science and Technology Innovation is a government-funded initiative by China’s Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) that supports collaborative research and development with international partners. The program aims to address global technological challenges, promote mutually beneficial cooperation, and support global infrastructure and economic development under the Belt and Road Initiative.
Under this scheme, a research collaboration between Indonesia and China was initiated by Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) and Beijing Jiaotong University (BJTU), focusing on the research and application of mobile communication network theory and technology for high-speed railway systems in Indonesia. The collaboration also involved international academic and industry partners, including the University of Birmingham, Technical University of Braunschweig (TU Braunschweig), ZTE Co. Ltd., and the China Railway Design Corporation (CRDC), to support research and technology development.
The research is closely linked to the Jakarta–Bandung High-Speed Rail project, a 150 km intercity corridor characterized by challenging terrain and environmental conditions, including significant elevation differences (up to 700 m), volcanic regions, tropical rainfall, dense vegetation, and plateau basins. Reliable and robust transmission and communication systems are critical to the success of the railway operation, requiring adaptive transmission technologies capable of handling multiple operating frequencies, diverse operational scenarios, and high-speed mobility. Therefore, the project focuses on the development and application of advanced high-speed communication theories and technologies for railway systems.
The project aims to develop and demonstrate advanced communication technologies through a hybrid network prototype for the Jakarta–Bandung High-Speed Rail system. Key research activities include the investigation of service requirements, wave propagation and channel characteristics, wireless spectrum and bandwidth analysis, hybrid network system architecture, network planning and optimization, high-speed adaptive enhancement techniques, performance monitoring and detection methods, and the application of 5G technologies for high-speed rail scenarios.
Partner University
Institut Teknologi Bandung led the Indonesian-side technical implementation, focusing on local channel characterization, communication system development, and field testing. ITB conducted channel measurements and developed channel models for relevant frequency spectra in Indonesian terrain, providing critical input for system design. The team also investigated GSM-R and LTE-R radio resource management strategies for the Jakarta–Bandung High-Speed Rail system and explored advanced 5G railway communication technologies, including non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA), massive MIMO, and beamforming techniques. To support system validation, ITB developed a performance simulation platform for key communication technologies and facilitated real-world testing of GSM-R and LTE-R prototype equipment supplied by the Chinese partners along the Jakarta–Bandung high-speed rail corridor.
Beijing Jiaotong University contributed to system-level design, modeling, and advanced communication theory development. BJTU analyzed Indonesian wireless communication service requirements and spectrum regulations to determine multinational GSM-R and LTE-R spectrum and bandwidth needs. The team developed dedicated channel models for the Jakarta–Bandung High-Speed Rail environment and investigated reliable transmission techniques for operations at speeds up to 350 km/h. BJTU also researched multi-interface real-time data tracking, network and interface monitoring techniques, and performance analysis and early-warning methods, and developed corresponding prototype systems. In addition, BJTU studied network compatibility between GSM-R and LTE-R, as well as 5G-R and railway IoT theories and applications, and developed experimental simulation platforms for propagation, channel modeling, and next-generation railway communication technologies.
The University of Birmingham provided expertise in communication system modeling and performance evaluation for high-speed railway applications. The team developed channel modeling methodologies tailored to Indonesian terrain conditions and evaluated the performance of GSM-R and LTE-R mobile communication networks for high-speed rail operations in Indonesia. In addition, they developed a simulation platform to assess the performance of key 5G-R technologies for railway applications, supporting system optimization and design validation.
The Technical University of Braunschweig contributed advanced propagation modeling and network planning tools. Their work included research on wave propagation and channel characteristics across relevant frequency spectra in Indonesian terrain. The team developed a ray-tracing simulator for detailed propagation and channel modeling for the Jakarta–Bandung High-Speed Rail system, as well as network planning software capable of supporting multiple operational scenarios for high-speed railway communication networks.
Report Highlight
Research Collaboration Description
Research Collaboration Report
External Link
Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China
Beijing Jiaotong University