Nokia and Deutsche Bahn launch 1900 MHz 5G SA FRMCS rail network

Nokia and Deutsche Bahn have activated a commercial-grade 5G Standalone network on the 1900 MHz band to validate Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) operations on live tracks.

Deployment details and test track location

The partners have launched a 5G SA deployment using the 1900 MHz (n101) spectrum band on DB’s digital railway test field in the Ore Mountains (Erzgebirge), Germany. The network is built with Nokia AirScale radio equipment and an optimized, cloud-native 5G core, and it operates on moving trains on outdoor tracks. The setup includes built-in failover, self-healing, and real-time monitoring to sustain service continuity in mission-critical environments.

Why 1900 MHz (n101) is optimal for FRMCS rail coverage

The 1900 MHz band has been identified in Europe for FRMCS, giving railways a dedicated 5G spectrum resource for safety-critical communications and cross-border interoperability. Compared with higher bands such as 3700 MHz (n78), 1900 MHz offers a better coverage-to-capacity balance for linear assets like rail corridors, while still supporting low-latency, high-reliability services needed for automation and train control.

Bridging GSM-R to FRMCS with 5G SA at 1900 MHz

This deployment advances the industry’s migration from GSM-R to FRMCS by validating 5G SA capabilities aligned to rail requirements. It extends DB’s prior trials on 3700 MHz and now standardizes on 1900 MHz for railway-grade operations. The network will also support Europe’s FP2-MORANE-2 program, which progresses FRMCS testing and integration across member states.

How FRMCS transforms rail operations with 5G SA

FRMCS introduces a 5G-era platform for train control, operational voice, data, and automation with performance and resilience that legacy systems cannot meet.

Mission-critical performance: slicing, QoS and resilience

FRMCS prioritizes safety-critical traffic and deterministic performance so controllers, onboard systems, and trackside equipment exchange data in real time even under failover conditions. That enables closer headways, higher capacity on existing lines, and more responsive incident management. Features such as network slicing, precise QoS, and edge processing bring consistent latency and reliability to signalling, Automatic Train Operation (ATO), and remote diagnostics.

AI and automation-ready 5G core for rail analytics

With a cloud-native 5G SA core, FRMCS can support data-heavy applications such as video analytics, condition-based maintenance, and AI-assisted operations. The architecture supports phased capability releases as 3GPP evolves, giving railways a roadmap for upgrades without wholesale replacements.

Standards-based interoperability and lifecycle roadmap

FRMCS is being standardized by the rail community in coordination with global mobile standards bodies to ensure cross-border interoperability. For rail operators, that means a managed transition path from GSM-R, lifecycle extensions where needed, and a consistent target architecture for future services.

Strategic takeaways for rail operators, vendors and regulators

This milestone creates a practical reference for how to build and operate private 5G for rail at scale, with direct consequences for spectrum planning, vendor selection, and safety certification.

Guidance for rail IMs and TOCs on FRMCS rollout

The DB deployment shows how to structure a dual-running strategy: maintain GSM-R for safety of life while piloting FRMCS over 1900 MHz, then expand coverage corridor by corridor. Key workstreams include certifying safety-related applications over 5G, integrating with ETCS/ATO, hardening cybersecurity, and establishing observability and SLA regimes tailored to operational technology.

What telecom vendors and integrators must deliver

Nokia’s blueprint—AirScale radios plus a 5G SA core with built-in resilience—sets expectations for carrier-grade features in private rail networks. Open, standards-based interfaces and lifecycle automation will be critical as operators demand multivendor interoperability, rigorous assurance, and predictable upgrade paths tied to 3GPP and FRMCS releases. Integration with edge compute and standardized APIs for signalling suppliers will be differentiators.

Priorities for regulators and spectrum harmonization

Harmonized allocation of the 1900 MHz band for rail supports pan-European interoperability and roaming of rail equipment. Evidence from live testbeds like DB’s should accelerate type approval, coexistence studies with adjacent bands, and cross-border coordination needed for future commercial corridors.

European FRMCS migration and ecosystem momentum

The DB-Nokia work ties into a wider push to modernize rail communications as networks prepare for FRMCS migrations across the continent.

From pilots to national FRMCS deployments

Beyond Germany, Nokia is also supporting modernization projects such as ProRail’s upgrade in the Netherlands, deploying a cloud-based GSM-R core with a clear path to FRMCS. These projects help railways reduce downtime and operational costs while building competence for 5G-era rollouts.

Ecosystem alignment via FP2-MORANE-2 trials

Programs like FP2-MORANE-2 help align rail operators, vendors, and standards bodies around interoperable specifications and test methodologies. Outcomes from these trials will guide procurement frameworks, assurance models, and certification processes for full FRMCS deployment.

FRMCS readiness signals: standards, demos and RFPs

Executives should monitor technical, regulatory, and commercial milestones that signal the readiness of FRMCS for production corridors.

Key standards and safety certification milestones

Track updates from the rail standards community and 3GPP releases relevant to FRMCS features, alongside certification frameworks for safety-critical applications over 5G. Watch for validated interoperability profiles for onboard units, trackside radio, and core networks.

ETCS/ATO integration and automation readiness over 5G

Look for demonstrations linking FRMCS with ETCS Level 2/3 and ATO over 5G, including end-to-end latency, fallback behavior, and cyber resilience. Verified performance for moving block and remote operations will be pivotal to business cases.

Procurement trends and safety-of-life SLAs

Expect RFPs to emphasize cloud-native 5G cores, slicing, observability, and incident automation, with SLAs framed around safety-of-life KPIs. Cross-border interoperability, lifecycle upgrade plans, and security assurance will be key award criteria.

Action plan for accelerating FRMCS adoption

Rail and telecom leaders should use this deployment as a template to de-risk their FRMCS journey and accelerate value capture.

Action items for rail CTOs and network strategy

Stand up a FRMCS lab and pilot on the 1900 MHz band; map ETCS/ATO requirements to 5G QoS profiles and slices; plan dual-mode operations with GSM-R; define cyber and safety cases; and build a migration playbook for stations, depots, and mainlines.

Action items for CSPs and 5G vendors

Productize railway-grade 5G SA with deterministic QoS, high availability, and observability; offer multi-access strategies (e.g., 1900 MHz for coverage, 3.7 GHz for capacity where justified); and align roadmaps to FRMCS test outcomes and European spectrum timelines.

Action items for industrial IoT and edge providers

Prioritize validated solutions for video analytics, predictive maintenance, and digital twins running at the rail edge; expose standardized APIs for integration with signalling and operations systems; and design for strict latency, resilience, and security constraints.