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PBE Maintenance Support of Axel Wireless products on the GSM-R Network

Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

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02 Sep 2026 at 12:34

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Network Rail Infrastructure Limited procured third-level maintenance, repair and technical support for its bespoke Axell repeater equipment and associated Axell Element Manager platform. These telecommunications systems are used across Network Rail’s GSM-R railway communications network. The requirement covers the Axell repeater estate and the technical platform used to manage it, supporting the continued operation and technical integrity of the network. The work is delivered across the United Kingdom. This is a specialist telecommunications equipment maintenance service, classified under CPV 50330000. The buyer is Network Rail Infrastructure Limited, a central government public authority operating in the utilities sector. The procurement was arranged as a single completed lot covering the whole requirement.

This procurement has been awarded through a direct award, using the utilities regime. The stated award date is 2 September 2026, and the selected supplier is PBE Europe Limited. The award value is £3,740,000 excluding VAT, or £4,484,000 including VAT. The contract period runs from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2036. The buyer’s rationale was that PBE Europe is the only supplier with the required third-level technical knowledge, proprietary expertise and intellectual property rights following its acquisition of Axell Wireless. The buyer identified significant technical, operational and interoperability risks with alternative suppliers. The procurement was evaluated on the basis of the supplier’s exclusive technical capability to maintain the Axell equipment and platform.

This award demonstrates sustained demand from Network Rail for highly specialised support of Axell wireless communications equipment within a GSM-R environment. Suppliers seeking comparable future work would need proven capability in third-level maintenance, fault diagnosis, repair and technical support for Axell repeaters, together with expertise in the Axell Element Manager platform. Credibility would also depend on access to the relevant intellectual property, proprietary technical knowledge and specialist engineering expertise. Competitors would need to show that they can maintain interoperability with the existing railway communications network while controlling technical and operational risk. Experience supporting safety-critical or nationally important telecommunications infrastructure would strengthen a supplier’s position, alongside the organisational capacity to support a large, complex equipment estate across the United Kingdom.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

PBE Maintenance Support of Axel Wireless products on the GSM-R Network

Notice Description

Support agreement for the provision of third-level maintenance, repair and technical support services for the bespoke Axell repeater estate and associated Axell Element Manager (AEM) platform used across the GSM-R network.

Procurement Information

PBE Europe Ltd is the only supplier capable of providing the required third-level maintenance, repair and technical support services for the Axell repeater estate and Axell Element Manager (AEM) platform, having inherited the associated intellectual property rights, technical knowledge and proprietary expertise following its acquisition of Axell Wireless Ltd. There is no reasonable alternative supplier capable of delivering the requirement without introducing significant technical, operational and interoperability risks.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f054
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083031-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

50 - Repair and maintenance services

CPV Codes

50330000 - Maintenance services of telecommunications equipment

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£3,740,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Oct 2026 - 30 Sep 2036 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SE1 8SW
Postcode Area
South East London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI45 Lambeth
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Lambeth
Electoral Ward
Waterloo & South Bank
Westminster Constituency
Vauxhall and Camberwell Green

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

PBE Europe Limited

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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