Wedoany.com Report-Sept. 16, Nokia and Deutsche Bahn (DB), Germany’s national railway operator, have deployed the world’s first commercial 1900 MHz (n101) 5G radio network with a 5G Standalone (SA) core on live outdoor test tracks. This deployment allows DB to operate a dedicated 5G railway network in Europe and forms a foundation for the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS), aimed at enhancing digitalization, capacity, and service reliability for rail operations.
The deployment represents a key step in transitioning the railway industry from the legacy Global System for Mobile Communications for Railway (GSM-R) to the 5G-based FRMCS standard, enabling real-time, mission-critical communications between trains and infrastructure. FRMCS supports full railway automation and integrates advanced technologies such as AI, providing a more competitive and future-ready rail system.
The technology is installed at DB’s digital railway test field in the Ore Mountains (Erzgebirge, Germany), running on operational trains. Features include built-in failover, self-healing capabilities, and real-time monitoring, ensuring high availability and operational efficiency. The network will also support the European FP2-MORANE-2 project, which builds on prior FRMCS initiatives to advance railway digitalization across Europe.
The contract expands DB’s ongoing trials with Nokia’s 3700 MHz (n78) 5G SA core and upgrades to include the 1900 MHz (n101) radio network from Nokia’s AirScale portfolio, paired with an optimized 5G SA core. The solution is designed for a smooth migration from GSM-R to FRMCS, delivering the low latency and high reliability required for modern railway operations.
Rainer Fachinger, Head of Telecom Platforms at DB InfraGO, said: “Deutsche Bahn wants to benefit from modern 5G-based telecommunications to upgrade the railway communication infrastructure. Collaborating with technology experts like Nokia is key for DB to bring the latest innovations into our real-world operations. This deployment on test tracks builds on a successful pre-FRMCS 5G trial conducted with Nokia and aims to standardize our private mobile network as a foundation for further pilots and future rollout.”
Rolf Werner, Head of Europe at Nokia, added: “Nokia and DB have been frontrunners in advancing FRMCS. We are proud to deliver the first-ever commercial 5G solution that utilizes the 1900 MHz spectrum band on the rail track. This is a milestone that will unlock key benefits for DB, including automated train operations, smart maintenance, and intelligent infrastructure and stations. We believe this launch will serve as an important benchmark for FRMCS upgrades in rail networks around the world in the coming years.”
This breakthrough positions DB to leverage modern, dedicated 5G networks for resilient, efficient, and more sustainable rail operations while providing a scalable platform for future automation, monitoring, and digital services. The deployment is a major step toward the broader adoption of FRMCS standards across Europe, supporting the next generation of rail infrastructure and services.
