Rail Transport 5.0: Deutsche Bahn Tests 5G on Rails for Faster Internet

The digital revolution has now reached railway tracks as well: An innovative rail project aimed at improving mobile phone usage on train journeys is making significant progress. The "Gigabit Innovation Track" project, a collaboration between Deutsche Bahn and renowned partners such as O2 Telefónica, Vantage Towers, and Ericsson, has successfully commenced a test drive on a route in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania to examine the 5G mobile wireless technology. The particular challenge for the powerful 5G network is that it has primarily been used in urban areas to date, not along railway lines, as its antennas have a relatively low range of around one kilometer. To address this deficiency, the initiative is aligning the antennas specifically for rail traffic and is using the 3.6-gigahertz frequency band, which shines with its large data throughput and high speeds. A converted, decommissioned ICE train serves as a trial laboratory on rails and has been equipped both inside and outside with the necessary antennas. The test runs, which are initially being conducted at a speed of 80 km/h and are later intended to increase to up to 140 km/h, aim to investigate the functionality of 5G connections at high speeds. A particular focus is on the handover of the connection from one cell to the next when the user is on a speeding train. The nationwide implementation of such a gigabit network along Germany's railway lines is still up for discussion, especially due to the high costs involved and the need for an increase in mobile phone masts. However, the project's results could demonstrate that 5G technology in the high-frequency band is not only suitable but could also be economically viable. Should this be the case, it could significantly improve network coverage for rail passengers in the future, thereby enabling a more comfortable travel experience.