However, the 5G standard currently does not foresee the usage of system bandwidths smaller than 5 MHz, which would render such coexistence difficult. For instance, it is for DB and other railways essential that FRMCS can coexist with GSM-R in the 900 MHz spectrum, especially during migration and in rural areas, where deployments at 1.9 GHz appear economically infeasible. A further challenge is to ensure that FRMCS is maximally realised via off-the-shelf, mainstream cellular technology – different from GSM-R, being a rail-specific standard –, while still accommodating the railway needs. Based on the large data rate requirements for future rail operation, it is typically assumed that the railways need to keep the (E)R-GSM bands at 900 MHz, while obtaining additional spectrum at, e.g., 1.9 GHz. What are the key challenges that need to be overcome to introduce 5G for future rail operation?Īn essential prerequisite for introducing 5G for future rail operation is sufficient dedicated spectrum, as most railway safety authorities mandate that connectivity for safety-related applications is provided via railway-operated networks using dedicated spectrum. While on the other, 5G offers various architectural benefits, such as a better native Cloud implementation support and a novel Quality of Service management framework. The choice of 5G is in this respect rather straightforward: On one hand, 5G is expected to be a well-established cellular communications technology by the time of the planned network roll-out. More precisely, first deployments in confined areas are expected around 2025, while large-scale roll-out will start around 2028. For this reason, and due to the upcoming obsolescence of today’s GSM-R technology after 2030, DB plans to initially complement and later replace GSM-R with the novel Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) based on 5G. This major technology leap will lead to substantially more stringent connectivity requirements than today’s rail operation, in terms of required data rates, latency and reliability. In the context of ‘Digitale Schiene Deutschland’, DB is striving towards a large extent of digitalisation and automation in future rail operation, enabled through the introduction of technologies such as machine learning, advanced sensing and high-precision localisation into the rail sector.
Why is 5G important for Deutsche Bahn (DB) in the context of Digital Rail?
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