Deutsche Bahn: Better cell phone reception on trains with immediate effect

Passengers are to have better reception on Deutsche Bahn trains in future thanks to the retrofitting of radio modules. This is possible because the radio modules of the GSM-R systems installed in almost 10,000 locomotives, multiple units and driving trailers have been replaced with "interference-resistant" modules. Since December 15, 2024, only trains that meet this standard may be used.

The problem with the old radio modules was that they used a frequency close to the 900 MHz range, which is also used by public mobile radio. This led to disruptions in rail communication and meant that the mobile network along the lines could not be fully utilized. However, this problem has now been solved by upgrading and retrofitting the trains.

From now on, the mobile network operators can operate their networks along the railroad lines like any other. "By converting to interference-resistant rail radio, we can now bring the cell phone network better to the trains and to the passengers with additional area frequencies," Marcel de Groot CEO at Vodafone Germany is quoted as saying by dpa. However, challenges such as the high number of users using the same mobile phone cells, the speed of the trains and the shielding of the signal by the carriage remain and can lead to impairments in reception.

The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport Affairs (BMDV) had funded the upgrade with 95 million euros. Federal Minister Volker Wissing said of the project: "With the funding program for the GSM-R upgrade, we are completing another measure of the gigabit strategy. Our goal is to make the most modern mobile communications standard available everywhere in the country by 2030 [...]".

According to the BMDV, reception has improved, particularly on routes such as Berlin – Halle (Saale), Nuremberg – Augsburg and Hanover – Hamburg. Over the course of this year, a further 10,000 kilometers of railroad line are to receive more powerful mobile network coverage by increasing the transmission power of many mobile network sites and equipping others with LTE in the 900 MHz band.

Further measures

According to dpa, Deutsche Bahn has also begun "scribing" the coating on the windows of ICE trains with lasers so that they no longer shield the signal too much. This light metal coating is actually intended for thermal insulation. In addition, more permeable windows are to be installed in the future.

(tlz)