TMC

The Traffic Message Channel (TMC) is a digital radio data service which is transmitted in RDS and is used to transmit traffic problems to a suitable reception device. As this signal is continually transmitted, the user is less dependent on the traffic forecasts which are only transmitted every half hour. And important information, such as cars going the wrong way on the motorway for instance, can also be forwarded immediately. Modern navigation systems use TMC for the automatic avoidance of traffic jams and lane closures (dynamic route guidance).

TMC is now transmitted within many European countries by many radio broadcasters. The quality of the transmissions varies however.

TMC services can generally be accessed for free (free TMC). In some countries, however, there are also fee-based TMC services (pay TMC) which promise the superior quality of the traffic news. Pay TMC is transmitted either in encoded format or uses an individual location table.

Individual traffic problems are sent as separate TMC messages. If a hold-up clears, the hold-up notification is cancelled out with a subsequent TMC message. If this isn’t received (e.g. because the receiver has meanwhile moved away from the reception area of the transmitter), the hold-up notification is alternatively deleted by the recipient when they reach the cut-off time.

Countries with TMC services

Belgium
A free TMC service, TIC-VL is available in the Flanders area.
A free TMC service, Wallonia, is currently being tested in the southern part of Belgium.

Denmark
A free TMC service, DK-TMC is being operated via the DRD (Danish Road Directorate). It is transmitted on the P3 and P4 channels on the Denmark radio service.

Germany
In Germany, free TMC services are available, and since January 2005, the commercial service TMCpro FM is also available. Free TMC can be received via several radio stations in the ARD broadcasting chain and the VHF broadcasting chain of Deutschlandradio  (Deutschlandfunk). TMCpro FM uses a wide range of broadcasters in the private and local radio network.

England
In England, the private company ITIS Holding transmits a commercial TMC service, iTMC. It is transmitted via FM radio. The fee for the service is sometimes included in the price of the vehicle or the navigation system.
Along with this service there is also a further service, RAC Live, which is run by RAC Trafficmaster Telematics (RTT), which is a 50-50 joint venture between RAC Motoring Services and Trafficmaster. This uses 3 private radio stations, GWR, Capital Radio and Chrysalis, which means that nationwide coverage is guaranteed.

Finland
A free TMC service is generally available in southern Finland.

France
In France, two services, one free and one commercial, are operated.

The free service, transmitted by the road operators, contains information about their toll roads. The road operators are AREA, ASF, ATMB, Cofiroute, ESCOTA, SANEF, SAPN, SAPRR, SFTRF and SMTPC. The TMC service is transmitted nationwide on the motorways at the frequency 107.7 MHz, ensuring it can only be received on the toll roads.

The commercial service, V-Trafic, is operated by Mediamobile. This is a partnership between TDF, Renault, Trafficmaster and Cofiroute. The service, which replaces the previous Visionaute service, is transmitted on the France Inter frequencies and can be received nationwide. It contains information concerning the motorways, with a special focus on the Paris region. At first, this service was also free, it later changed to become a commercial service though. However, it is not encoded. Services from ViaMichelin and Carte Blanche are also expected, with test transmissions already taking place through the broadcasters NRJ.

Italy
A TMC service is also available in Italy. The CCISS is making the data available. The TMC signal is transmitted via the RAI broadcasting network on the Radio 1 channel. The TMC service primarily covers the main roads in the northern part of the country, particularly the West-East Autostrada. A further free TMC service is transmitted by private radio stations. The broadcasters RTL 102.5 are being used, who reach 90% of the population and are currently expanding.

Holland
In Holland, the data is provided by the service providers TMC4U. This service is currently free but a service with local messages is planned. TMC4U is a collaboration between Siemens and ANWB. It is transmitted via the broadcasters Sky Radio, Radio Veronica, Radio 1 and 3FM. Radio 2 also transmits TMC messages. A second TMC service operated by Vialis uses the broadcasters Q-Music, BNR Nieuwsradio and Radio 538.

Norway
A TMC service is also available in Norway, which is currently available in the Østfold, Akershus and Oslo regions. An expansion of the service is currently being worked on in order to include larger parts of the country.

Austria
In Austria, the ORF transmits the free TMC service via the broadcasters Ö1, Ö3, FM4 and the local state studios, supported by the Federal Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology (BMVIT). In Austria, the motorways and dual carriageway financing company (ASFINAG) is responsible for the LT. Version 2.0 is currently used.

Sweden
A free TMC service is available in Sweden. The SNRA, the Swedish National Road Administration (or Vägverket) is responsible for the free service. In terms of the transmitting, Sweden is divided into eight radio zones. In these areas, only the messages which actually refer to these regions are transmitted. The messages contain information about accidents and road works as well as weather reports concerning European road network, motorways and dual carriageways. For transmission, Sveriges Radoi P3 uses radio stations which cover 98% of the population.

Switzerland
In Switzerland, the SRG SSR Idée Suisse transmits the TMC signals across the whole of Switzerland via the broadcasters of the first and third VHF broadcasting chain.

Spain
In Spain the TMC service is operated by the following organisations:
The service includes the motorways and national roads as well as the ‘first level’ roads which belong to the autonomous areas.

The Czech Republic
At the moment, no regular TMC service is available in the Czech Republic. A test service, co-ordinated through CEDA, was transmitted in 2003. The TMC service will initially focus on Prague city centre and some main roads in the Prague region. ATT (The Transport Telematics Association) is organising ITS activities and the planned service provider of the free local service is TSK (Communication Technical Administration).

The USA
In the USA, XM satellite radio has already started transmitting the TMC service in the whole country, with Sirius Satellite Radio also having announced the start of a service. Clear Channel have also followed suit.

TMC services planned:
Portugal

No TMC services planned:
Ireland
Luxembourg

TMC services being tested:

In Poland, a private radio station has tested the TMC service. The GDDKIA (General directorate for roads and motorways) hasn’t managed to reach an agreement on an introduction.
A first LT has been published in Dubai.
In China, research is currently underway into which technology should be used for the traffic information system. The limited choice currently includes the Japanese system VICS and the European system TMC.
Hungary is set to introduce TMC in the next 1-2 years within the scope of the CONNECT project.

http://www.tmcforum.com/