Ericsson is working with O2, Telefónica and Vantage Towers among others to develop 5G on trains in Germany, which will require an additional 20,000 towers along the tracks across the nation. The new infrastructure will give train passengers gigabit speeds and aid in the further digitizing rail operations.
“Experts estimate that as soon as the early 2030s, we will need data rates of up to 5 Gbps per train between the towers along the track and passing trains for passengers on board to experience telephone and data service with the level of quality that mobile communications will be expected to meet,” Ericsson said.
To get to those speeds, the project partners will also test 5G on O2 and Telefónica’s 3.6 GHz frequencies. Because of the shorter range of that spectrum, many more antennas will be needed. One tower will cover only around 0.6 of a mile of the rail line. The Future Rail Mobile Communication System (FRMCS), with its dedicated 1.9 GHz band, will also require additional towers.
To reduce construction time, resources and costs, the project team is developing proposals for cooperation between wireless operators, railroads and tower operators that would allow towers to be shared for FRMCS connections and 5G coverage. The German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport announced this week that the effort will receive federal funding.
“The major challenge of gigabit coverage for railways can only be solved through consistent sharing of infrastructure. For the 5G rollout along tracks, we focus on innovative tower concepts for a fast, cost-efficient and environmentally friendly implementation. We are delighted to be able to contribute to Germany’s sustainable digitalization in this way,” said Christian Sommer, member of the Management Board of Vantage Towers.
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