Internet - Cell phone network on rails: 5G project tests better radio
Construction work has begun on an ambitious rail project to test a mobile network with gigabit speeds along the tracks. According to Deutsche Bahn and Telefónica (O2), the first masts have been anchored in the ground along the little-used, approximately ten-kilometer stretch between Karow and Malchow in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
The infrastructure company Vantage Towers and the network equipment supplier Ericsson are also involved in the project, which costs around 12.7 million euros and half of which is being covered by funding from the Federal Ministry of Transport.
The project is still at an early stage. By the end of the year, 13 antenna sites should be ready. Measurements are then planned in order to configure the system. The ICE test runs are scheduled to start in spring 2024. Whether such a gigabit network will ever be built on a large scale along Germany's railroad tracks is still completely open, especially as it would be expensive and would require many more mobile phone masts along the railroad lines than there are today.
Concrete foundations no longer necessary
One of the aims of the project is to make construction as uncomplicated as possible by eliminating the need for conventional concrete foundations. In addition, a high frequency band is used. This is new for railroad lines: The 3.6 gigahertz band enables enormous data throughput and very low latency, i.e. response time.
However, the antenna range in this frequency band is low, reportedly only 500 to 1000 meters. As a result, many more masts are required than on railroad lines, where radio transmission takes place in lower frequency bands with a significantly greater range. However, these low bands - around 0.7 gigahertz - have the disadvantage that their bandwidth is lower and the latency is worse than in the high bands.
According to a government regulation, the transmission speed on the ICE lines is at least 100 megabits per second. The new project in 3.6 gigahertz is targeting 1000 megabits (1 gigabit) per second - that would be a whole new level of Internet for train travel.
"If we want to get people excited about climate-friendly rail travel, we have to offer them an excellent telephone and surfing experience," says Deutsche Bahn's Head of Technology Daniela Gerd tom Markotten. With a view to people who want to work on the move in the digital age, stream films on the move or use digital study content, she says the aim is to turn the train "into a rolling office, cinema or lecture hall". "With increasing data volumes, this will only work with 5G and gigabit data rates."
O2 board member Valentina Daiber says that the technological possibilities for high-performance gigabit coverage are there. "We will now work together to test how we can best roll it out along the rail network for our customers." Ultimately, it is also about gaining a better understanding of economic efficiency and financing.
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- The project aims to eliminate the need for conventional concrete foundations for the mobile network mast construction along the railroad.
- The high frequency band of 3.6 gigahertz used in the project enables large data throughput and low latency, a novelty for railroad lines.
- Despite the low antenna range of 500 to 1000 meters in this frequency band, more masts are required compared to lower frequency bands commonly used on railroad lines.
- Telefónica (O2) is collaborating with Deutsche Bahn and other companies on this 5G project in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, funded partly by the federal ministry of transportation.
- The goal is to offer passengers a superior telecommunications experience, such as high-speed internet and phone connectivity, to boost interest in climate-friendly rail travel.
- To achieve this, the project targets 1000 megabits per second of Internet speed, significantly higher than the current 100 megabits required by ICE lines.
- The German railroad, Deutsche Bahn, is hopeful that 5G and gigabit data rates will enable passengers to work, stream movies, or use digital study materials on the train as a "rolling office, cinema, or lecture hall".
- O2 board member Valentina Daiber noted the technological potential for high-performance gigabit coverage, expressing confidence in testing its implementation along the rail network.
- The project aims to improve understanding of the economic efficiency and financing aspects for wider-scale implementation of 5G networks on the German railroad.
Source: www.stern.de
