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High-speed Internet for trains: A new digital path for Germany!
Four mobile phone providers and Deutsche Bahn are launching the “Gigabit Innovation Track” project for fast internet on trains.
High-speed Internet for trains: A new digital path for Germany!
In Germany, we are working hard on the “Gigabit Innovation Track” (GINT XT) project to offer rail passengers consistent high-speed Internet. Deutsche Bahn, together with four major mobile phone providers – 1&1, Deutsche Telekom, O2 Telefónica and Vodafone – as well as other partners such as Vantage Towers and Ericsson, have committed themselves to this ambitious goal. Main Echo reports that the first step will be on the busy Hamburg-Berlin route with its 278 kilometers and around 30,000 passengers daily.
Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger emphasizes the importance of fast internet on rails. The railway is currently confronted with inadequate mobile phone coverage, especially in rural areas. The focus is on retrofitting older trains, as many of them significantly shield cell phone signals with special window films. Newer trains, on the other hand, are equipped with radio-permeable windows, which significantly improves reception.
Technological challenges and solutions
The project is also an answer to the challenges that the expansion of mobile communications poses to the railways. New designs of radio masts are in the test phase, with the aim of sustainable construction without complex concrete bases. Telefonica reported that masts that are not laboriously anchored in the ground are being planned. These save time and resources while reducing CO2 emissions.
The new 5G mobile technology will be implemented along the tracks, specifically at frequencies of 3.6 GHz, which enable fast data transfers, but with a limited range compared to 4G. In order to ensure nationwide 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 is striving to intensify cooperation between the mobile communications industry and the railways. German railway cites several innovative technologies, such as multiple antennas and beamforming, that are being tested to increase the effectiveness of signal transmission. The expansion of mobile communications is not only important for travelers, but also necessary for future radio technologies such as the Future Rail Mobile Communication System (FRMCS), which requires additional frequencies.
In the coming months there will be test runs in a DB laboratory train to test high-speed Internet in high-speed traffic. Experts estimate that data rates of up to 5 gigabits per second will be necessary for complete digital networking of trains by the beginning of the 2030s. The future of mobility on rails is becoming increasingly digital – an advance that is exciting both travelers and the entire industry.