Nokia Completes First 1900 MHz 5G Live Call on Deutsche Bahn Test Track Supporting FRMCS Radio

Why It Matters

The successful live call proves FRMCS can be deployed today, accelerating rail operators’ migration to mission‑critical 5G communications and enabling advanced automation and cross‑border services.

Key Takeaways

• Nokia completed first 1900 MHz 5G rail call.
• Demonstrates FRMCS readiness on live Deutsche Bahn track.
• 5G SA core and AirScale hardware used.
• Supports seamless migration from GSM‑R to FRMCS.
• Real‑world testing validates latency and reliability for rail ops.

Pulse Analysis

The railway industry is undergoing a fundamental shift from the aging GSM‑R system to the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS), a platform built for mission‑critical, low‑latency communications. FRMCS decouples the transport layer from service applications, allowing operators to run rail‑specific services over any modern cellular technology, including 4G, 5G and future 6G. By embracing this flexible architecture, rail networks can introduce real‑time train control, predictive maintenance, and secure cross‑border signaling, all of which are essential for the next generation of autonomous and high‑speed services.

Nokia’s live demonstration on Deutsche Bahn’s test track in the Ore Mountains marks the first real‑world use of the 1900 MHz (n101) band for rail communications. The deployment combined AirScale radio units with a 5G standalone core, delivering uninterrupted voice calls and handovers across the full length of the track. Unlike laboratory trials, the field test exposed the system to variable terrain, weather and operational constraints, confirming that the network can maintain connectivity without packet loss. Early performance data will now be expanded to include latency measurements and throughput under load, benchmarks that are critical for safety‑critical train control functions.

For rail operators, this proof‑of‑concept reduces the perceived risk of early FRMCS adoption and demonstrates that existing infrastructure can be upgraded incrementally. The ability to run FRMCS alongside legacy GSM‑R systems means railways can transition without service interruptions, protecting revenue while modernizing. As European standards converge and the FP2‑MORANE‑2 project validates the technology, operators worldwide are likely to accelerate rollout plans, opening opportunities for vendors and creating a competitive market for rail‑focused 5G solutions. The successful test underscores Nokia’s position as a key enabler of the digital rail transformation.