Nokia and Deutsche Bahn (DB), Germany’s state-owned rail operator, have deployed the world’s first commercial 1900 MHz (n101) 5G radio network with a standalone 5G core, marking a significant step in the modernization of railway communications. The system is now live on DB’s outdoor test tracks in the Ore Mountains and is positioned to support the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS), the next-generation digital standard for European railways.
The deployment underscores DB’s transition away from the decades-old GSM-R (Global System for Mobile Communications – Railway) network toward a 5G-based framework designed to handle mission-critical data and voice services. FRMCS will be central to enabling real-time, reliable communications between trains and infrastructure, supporting ambitions for automated operations, higher capacity, and more sustainable rail services.
“Deutsche Bahn wants to benefit from modern 5G-based telecommunications to upgrade the railway communication infrastructure. Collaborating with technology experts like Nokia is key for DB to bring the latest innovations into our real-world operations,” said Rainer Fachinger, Head of Telecom Platforms at DB InfraGO. “This deployment 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.”
Nokia’s technology is being used on live trains in DB’s digital railway test field. Features such as self-healing capabilities, built-in failover, and real-time monitoring are designed to ensure high levels of availability and resilience—critical for passenger safety and efficient operations.
The network will also contribute to the European FP2-MORANE-2 project, which seeks to advance the rollout of FRMCS across the continent. With rail operators under pressure to expand digital capacity while maintaining service reliability, the move to 5G is expected to become an essential enabler of modernization.
“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,” said Rolf Werner, Head of Europe at Nokia. “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.”
The deployment extends DB’s earlier test trials with Nokia’s 3700 MHz (n78) 5G radio network. The new system combines Nokia’s AirScale 1900 MHz (n101) radio equipment with an optimized standalone 5G core, designed to ensure a smooth migration path from GSM-R to FRMCS. The companies say the solution offers the low latency and high reliability required for rail applications, while setting the stage for future adoption across Europe’s rail corridors.
