Nokia has unveiled a new 5G radio system aimed at providing railway operators with high-capacity and high-performance connectivity. The initiative is part of the future railway mobile communication system (FRMCS), which is set to replace the existing global system for mobile communications – railway (GSM-R) 2G standard within the coming decade.
The solution features Nokia’s core enterprise solution for railways along with what the company describes as the first commercial 5G radio for the 1900-megahertz (MHz) n101 band. FRMCS, built on 5G technology, is intended to support cross-border communications, automation, and the deployment of advanced digital applications in railway transport.
Nokia highlighted the track record of GSM-R deployments across more than 20 countries and noted its active participation in FRMCS development through collaborations with rail operators, governments, industry groups, and standardisation authorities.
Further, Nokia stated that the system is designed to enable real-time train control and monitoring, predictive maintenance, and integrated communication covering data, voice, and video. It also aims to deliver safety-related functions, energy efficiency improvements, and enhanced passenger information services.
The new system combines Nokia’s core enterprise solution for railways with a 5G radio from its AirScale range, operating in the 1900 MHz band, and is backed by Nokia’s established internet protocol (IP), optical, and data centre networking solutions.
Additionally, the company emphasised that the newly launched 5G radio is interoperable with current GSM-R systems, supporting phased implementation. It operates on a cloud-native 5G standalone core, enabling flexible and scalable deployments from regional to national networks.
Nokia has now confirmed that the system will undergo testing under the European Union (EU) -funded flagship project 2 – mobile radio for railway networks in Europe-2 (FP2-MORANE-2) project, which is focused on enhancing digital railway operations across Europe.
