BNSF Railway Associate Vice President for Technology Services, Sunny Bajaj, has not responded to multiple interview requests regarding the upcoming deadline for the railway industry to upgrade its communications technology, phasing out the current 900 MHz private wireless network and replacing it with a broadband-supported frequency.
Federal Newswire requested interviews with Bajaj from January through March, but he and BNSF refused to comment, instead referring the news source to the Association of American Railroads (AAR).
The initiative aims to address long-standing infrastructure challenges, with the goal of improving rail operations, safety, productivity, and communication security across the industry.
Bajaj and BNSF's refusal to be interviewed on the topic comes as a pending Federal Communications Commission (FCC) deadline approaches, requiring all rail companies to upgrade the industry-standard 900 MHz frequency to support broadband.
September 2025 is the deadline by which all railway communication systems are required to meet the new broadband standard. Rail companies have until April 2026 to to meet the FCC’s license renewal deadline, although an FCC official previously told Federal Newswire that some wireless spectrum experts believe little to no actual movement has occurred among the Class I railroads.
The transition will require industry-wide upgrades, including the acquisition of approximately 10,000 new radio systems capable of operating on the new frequency.
Much of the current technology, developed in the late 20th century, was primarily designed for voice communication and basic data transmission.
According to the Association of American Railroads (AAR), railroads have collectively committed $110 million to fund the necessary equipment upgrades. Of this total, around $41 million is allocated for clearing the broadband spectrum, while $26 million has already been spent on upgrading legacy systems.
To meet the deadline, railroads must phase out the outdated 900 MHz private wireless network currently used by systems like Centralized Traffic Control (CTC), which plays a critical role in managing train schedules and ensuring safety.
The legacy 900 MHz spectrum will be repurposed by Anterix, the largest holder of licensed spectrum in the 900 MHz band in the United States, which plans to use the spectrum for wireless infrastructure supporting smart grid upgrades in the utility sector.
Bajaj has held a variety of roles at BNSF, the nation’s largest freight railroad, for nearly 12 years. Additionally, he serves as an advisory board member for AT&T and has held similar advisory board positions with other telecom providers. He previously worked at Alcatel-Lucent, a multinational telecommunications equipment company.
