High-speed internet for trains: a new digital path for Germany!

High-speed internet for trains: a new digital path for Germany!

In Germany, work is being worked on on the “Gigabit Innovation Track” (GINT XT) project to offer rail travelers a continuous high-speed internet. Deutsche Bahn, together with four large mobile phone providers - 1 & 1, Deutsche Telekom, O2 Telefónica and Vodafone - as well as other partners such as Vantage Towers and Ericsson, are committed to this ambitious goal. Main-echo reports that the first step on the highly frequented route Hamburg-Berlin and around 30,000 daily Passengers will be.

Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger emphasizes the importance of fast internet on rails. The train is currently faced with inadequate mobile phone supply, especially in rural areas. The focus is on retrofitting older trains, since many of them shield the mobile phone signals considerably through special disc foils. Newer trains, on the other hand, are equipped with radio -permeable windows, which significantly improves the reception.

technological challenges and solutions

The project is also an answer to the challenges that the mobile phone expansion places on the train. There are new designs of radio masts in the test phase, with sustainable establishment being sought without elaborate concrete base. Telefonica that are not elaborate in the ground. These save time and resources while reducing CO2 emissions.

The new 5G mobile radio technology is implemented along the tracks, in fact, on frequencies of 3.6 GHz, which enable fast data transmissions, but with a limited range compared to 4G. To ensure a comprehensive supply, around 20,000 new masts are required across Germany, with each mast covering an area of ​​around one kilometer.

practical implementation and outlook

The project team strives to intensify the cooperation between the mobile phone industry and the railway. Deutsche Bahn calls several innovative technologies And beamforming that are tested to increase the effectiveness of the signal transmission. Mobile phone expansion is not only important for travelers, but also necessary for future radio technologies such as the future Rail Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) that requires additional frequencies.

In the coming months, measurement journeys will be in a DB laboratory train to test the high-speed internet in high-speed traffic. Experts estimate that up to 5 gigabits per second will be necessary for full digital networking of the trains by the beginning of the 2030s. The future of mobility on rails is becoming more and more digital - progress that inspires both travelers and the entire industry.