Germany’s national railway company Deutsche Bahn is installing secure, non-public 5G campus networks for its maintenance depots, train formation and trans-shipment facilities, as a cornerstone for future digitalisation and automation efforts.

Smart Mobile Labs (SML), a Boldyn Networks company, has entered into a framework agreement with Deutsche Bahn for the planning, delivery, construction and operation of the 5G campus networks.

The agreement, valued almost in the double-digit million-euro range establishes SML as the designated partner for all affiliated group companies of Deutsche Bahn in the implementation of 5G campus networks.

These networks will use local spectrum – radio frequencies in the 3.7 to 3.8GHz range – that can be easily obtained from the Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) for a nominal licence fee. By integrating 5G network components, this initiative enables the creation of secure, non-public 5G campus networks tailored to industrial use.

Deutsche Bahn (www.deutschebahn.com) sees the implementation of these networks primarily in its maintenance depots, train formation and trans-shipment facilities. To meet Deutsche Bahn’s requirements, SML has developed two tailored systems. Additionally, selected services will be provided in collaboration with STF Gruppe (www.stf-gruppe.de).

These services are built exclusively on 5G standalone architecture and support features such as eSIM profiles, network slicing and 5G RedCap. This ensures Deutsche Bahn gains access to the latest 5G capabilities designed for industrial applications.

Boldyn Networks (www.boldyn.com) recently acquired SML (smartmobilelabs.com), a German specialist in bespoke private networks and turnkey applications. The framework agreement for the partnership with Deutsche Bahn was finalised with SML prior to the acquisition agreement.