Nokia and Deutsche Bahn (DB) on September 15 announced that they switched on the first commercial 1900 MHz (n101) 5G rail network with a 5G Standalone (SA) core, according to Interesting Engineering.
The system combines Nokia AirScale radios and an optimized 5G SA core with failover, self-healing, and real-time monitoring for high availability. The live deployment runs on DB’s digital railway test field in the Ore Mountains (Erzgebirge), Germany.
It builds on DB’s trials and supports Europe’s FP2-MORANE-2 tests of FRMCS, helping railways move from GSM-R to FRMCS. The current partnership with Nokia also extends DB’s ongoing test trials using Nokia’s 5G SA core and 3700 MHz(n78) radio network equipment from its AirScale portfolio.
A transitional change
Rainer Fachinger, Head of Telecom Platforms at DB InfraGO, praised the Finnish giant for “helping them bring their latest innovations” in practice.
“Deutsche Bahn wants to benefit from modern 5G-based telecommunications to upgrade the railway communication infrastructure,” he said.
“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,” Fachinger stated.
Rolf Werner, Head of Europe at Nokia, expressed his delight about launching the first-ever commercial 5G solution and what it means for the company.
“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,” he said.
“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,” he continued.
What is 5G-based FRMCS?
The Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) is the 5G-era replacement for GSM-R – the dedicated mobile network railways use for train control and operations. Think of it as the railway’s own fast, reliable 5G so drivers, signals, and equipment can talk to each other instantly and safely.
With FRMCS, safety messages get top priority. Delays drop because controllers see the problems in real time, and trains can move closer together without risking safety, enabling more capacity. It also enables automation and spotting issues before breakdowns.
FRMCS can work across countries and be upgraded as 5G improves, so railway networks stay efficient and future-ready.
Nokia’s role in rail modernization
Nokia is also helping ProRail in the Netherlands modernize its railway mobile network over the next four years. It’s installing a new cloud-based GSM-R core with a clear upgrade path to FRMCS.
The goal is to make the network safe and more reliable, cut downtime and long-term costs, and speed up Europe’s digital rail shift.
“European rail operators can build a foundation for future-ready communications as part of the ongoing digital transformation,” Nokia stated.
“The timeline for this transition is crucial as operators prepare for GSM-R lifecycle extensions and plan their migration to FRMCS in Europe and beyond.”
