Nokia deploys world’s first commercial 5G rail network in Germany

Nokia and Deutsche Bahn (DB) have launched the world’s first commercial 5G rail network operating on the 1900 MHz (n101) band with a 5G Standalone (SA) core. This deployment, located on DB’s digital railway test field in Germany’s Ore Mountains, integrates Nokia AirScale radios and an optimized 5G SA core featuring failover, self-healing, and real-time monitoring to ensure high availability. The network supports Europe’s FP2-MORANE-2 tests of the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS), which is set to replace the legacy GSM-R system, enabling faster, safer, and more efficient railway communications. The collaboration builds on previous 5G trials and aims to standardize private mobile networks as a foundation for future pilots and broader rollouts. FRMCS leverages 5G technology to prioritize safety messages, reduce delays by providing real-time problem visibility, and enable closer train spacing without compromising safety. It also