German state railway DB, network equipment supplier Ericsson, telecommunications provider O2 Telefónica and radio mast operator Vantage Towers have put the Karow – Malchow test track in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania into operation to test the 5G mobile communications infrastructure. As part of the "Gigabit Innovation Track" (GINT) project, more powerful 5G mobile communications coverage is to be trialled along the tracks. The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) is funding the project with €6.4 million. The "Advanced TrainLab", a converted former high-speed train of the ICE type, will be used on the test track from spring 2024 to test the technology. The results of the project are expected by the end of 2024. The findings should help to accelerate the expansion of the network and the digitalisation of rail transport with the Future Rail Mobile Communication System (FRMCS).
