Train Riders to Enjoy High-Speed Internet Connection Due to Broad Alliance Collaboration
High-Speed Internet on Trains within Reach
Germany's future has high-speed internet on trains out of the blue-sky realm, thanks to a groundbreaking project involving Deutsche Bahn (DB), mobile heavyweights 1&1, Deutsche Telekom, O2 Telefónica, and Vodafone, and partners like antenna tower operator Vantage Towers, network provider Ericsson, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), and railway network operator Regio Infra Nord-Ost (RIN). A generous boost from the Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs makes this possible.
Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger (CDU) echoes the sentiment, asserting that internet access without limitations, suitable for work, streaming, and calling, shouldn't be a pipe dream while traveling by train. Overcoming complex technical hurdles is essential to achieve this.
The 278-kilometer-long Hamburg - Berlin railway line, one of Germany's busiest routes, battles network coverage issues along the route. Passengers often grapple with inconsistent data speeds due to poor network coverage in rural regions and window films used in certain ICE trains that block mobile signals. The good news is that newer ICE trains boast radio-transparent windows, while older trains have their window films laser-etched to let mobile signals pass unhindered.
The "Gigabit Innovation Track XT" (GINT XT) project takes a significant leap. Mobile network providers and partners devote themselves to exploring how base stations, software, and antennas can be shared among all four mobile network operators, initially prioritizing the Hamburg - Berlin railway line. The 3.6 GHz frequency band, pivotal for high-performance data connections, is chosen, with lower frequencies for extended range and higher frequency bands under examination too. Compatibility with public mobile networks and the future railway radio system FRMCS also will be scrutinized in this collaborative venture.
According to Markus Haas, CEO of O2 Telefónica, project participants aspire to set the foundation for a new era of digital connectivity on trains. Preliminary tests demonstrate that Gigabit connectivity along the tracks is achievable, provided all work together. Better utilization of the entire 5G spectrum is predicted to bring clarity.
Enrichment Data:
The GINT XT project is a collaborative endeavor focusing on delivering continuous high-speed internet for passengers on trains across Germany. Strategy-wise, the project employs cooperative network deployment, compact mobile masts, and 5G technology, targeting an infrastructure overhaul along rail routes to support advanced digital services and internet access for passengers. GINT XT's overall impact includes laying the groundwork for the European rail communication system FRMCS, boasting strong support from the German Federal Ministry for Digital and State Modernization. Research organizations like DLR contribute expertise to optimize infrastructure design and performance.
| Feature | Details ||-------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|| Main Goal | Continuous high-speed internet for train passengers || Key Participants | Deutsche Bahn, 1&1, Deutsche Telekom, O2 Telefónica, Vodafone || Technology | 5G (3.6 GHz), compact roadside masts || Physical Deployment | Masts ~1 km apart along tracks || Additional Impact | Infrastructure for FRMCS (future rail comms system) || Funding/Support | German Federal Ministry for Digital and State Modernization |
- The GINT XT project, a multifaceted collaboration between Deutsche Bahn, mobile network providers such as 1&1, Deutsche Telekom, O2 Telefónica, and Vodafone, along with partners like Ericsson and DLR, aims to revolutionize finance, data-and-cloud-computing, and technology industries by providing continuous high-speed internet for passengers on trains across Germany.
- Under the GINT XT project, the focus on cooperative network deployment, compact mobile masts, and 5G technology is not merely an attempt to overcome network coverage issues faced by passengers on the Hamburg - Berlin railway line; it also intends to establish an infrastructure that supports advanced digital services, can boost the economy through enhanced industry and finance capabilities, and contribute to Germany's future in the data-and-cloud-computing and technology sectors.
