A digital revolution is underway in rail transport. Technology giant Nokia has partnered with Germany’s national railway company, Deutsche Bahn, to launch a world-first 5G rail network. This new system brings numerous innovations to rail operations, including smart maintenance, automated train operation, and highly secure communications.

The world’s first 5G rail network has been launched

Nokia and Deutsche Bahn announced in a joint statement on September 15th that they have officially launched this 5G network operating in the 1900 MHz (n101) frequency band. The infrastructure consists of Nokia AirScale radio equipment and an optimized 5G Standalone core network.

The system offers high availability with advanced features such as automatic error management, self-healing, and real-time monitoring. The initial tests and launch of the network took place at DB’s digital railway testbed in the Erzgebirge region of Germany.

This step provides significant support for the Future Rail Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) tests currently being implemented in Europe’s rail sector. FRMCS is a 5G-based technology that will replace the current GSM-R communication system.

The new system enables instant and secure communication between drivers, signaling systems, and other equipment. This allows trains to run closer together and increases railway capacity without compromising safety.

Nokia’s efforts to digitize railway networks are not limited to Germany. The company is also undertaking a similar transformation project with ProRail operator in the Netherlands. By migrating its existing GSM-R core network to a cloud-based infrastructure, Nokia is paving the way for a seamless transition to FRMCS. This process increases network security, reduces maintenance costs, and accelerates the digital railway transformation across Europe.