B777-200
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Incursion Taxiway
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Procedure
Clearance from ZZZ ground was non-standard progressive taxi to T2 and hold short Taxiway D. On T2 ZZZ Ground switched us from the east to west Ground frequency. After checking in with the new ZZZ Ground cleared us to continue to taxi on T2 short of Taxiway D. About halfway along T2 we started the right engine. During the engine start we heard ZZZ Ground clear us to taxi T2; F; F10 holding point for Runway 01. First Officer read back; 'Taxi T2; F; F10 holding point for Runway 01.' We turned left on F and prior to F10. Ground called and told us we were supposed to hold short of Taxiway D. First Officer answered that our last clearance was taxi F to F10 holding point. At this point a [airline] with a four digit callsign that also ended in eight made a radio call to Ground about their clearance. After a few seconds ZZZ Ground told us to disregard and to contact Ground (he meant Tower) on frequency 118.8. We switched to Tower and were told to hold short Runway 01 at F10.Language barrier is first and foremost followed by similar 4-digit call signs and fatigue. Previous flight block was XA:57 with a 3-man crew. It's possible the controller was simply confused or that we mistakenly accepted a similar call sign's taxi instructions and were not corrected by ATC or the [other] aircraft (only other aircraft taxiing). Our attention was also on the 2nd engine start so possibly could've been a contributing factor.Clearance from ZZZ ground was non-standard progressive taxi to T2 and hold short Taxiway D. On T2 ZZZ Ground switched us from the east to west Ground frequency. After checking in with the new ZZZ Ground cleared us to continue to taxi on T2 short of Taxiway D. About halfway along T2 we started the right engine. During the engine start we heard ZZZ Ground clear us to taxi T2; F; F10 holding point for Runway 01. First Officer read back; 'Taxi T2; F; F10 holding point for Runway 01.' We turned left on F and prior to F10. Ground called and told us we were supposed to hold short of Taxiway D. First Officer answered that our last clearance was taxi F to F10 holding point. At this point a [airline] with a four digit callsign that also ended in eight made a radio call to Ground about their clearance. After a few seconds ZZZ Ground told us to disregard and to contact Ground (he meant Tower) on frequency 118.8. We switched to Tower and were told to hold short Runway 01 at F10.Language barrier is first and foremost followed by similar 4-digit call signs and fatigue. Previous flight block was XA:57 with a 3-man crew. It's possible the controller was simply confused or that we mistakenly accepted a similar call sign's taxi instructions and were not corrected by ATC or the [other] aircraft (only other aircraft taxiing). Our attention was also on the 2nd engine start so possibly could've been a contributing factor.
B777-200 Captain reported language issues and similar call signs contributed to a taxiway deviation.