Skip to main content

Berlin Subway gets 4G/LTE, Getting Ready for 5G

Mobile connectivity is becoming a necessity and this is compelling mobile operators to provide coverage in very hard to reach areas within cities. One such example is in subways and metros where connectivity enhances the overall quality of life for commuters, improves safety and efficiency, and supports the growth of smart, connected urban environments. There are several other advantages like emergency communications, being able to communicate with friends/family/colleagues as and when required, and much more that I an not going to expand here.

Some years back we made an explainer on how connectivity is provided in case of metro/subway here. While there were limited examples available then, we have seen a boom in underground connectivity since then. 

Recently O2 Telefónica in Germany announced (in German, translated via Google translate):

It was now possible for all passengers of the Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) to access high speed connectivity. The Berlin subway, the backbone of Berlin's local transport with well over a million passengers a day, now has a fast and powerful 4G/LTE mobile network from all major mobile providers on all underground routes. This was announced by the BVG and O2 Telefónica as project leaders. This means that not only customers of O2 Telefónica , but also customers of Deutsche Telekom and Vodafone in the Berlin subway benefit from fast mobile communications.

O2 Telefónica has created a completely new mobile communications architecture for the Berlin subway network . Previously, the network technology was distributed across various underground operating rooms along the route network. From now on, four central above-ground data centers - the so-called "BTS Hotels" - offer access to the base stations at any time. This enables the network technicians of the major mobile phone providers to feed in new hardware and software much more quickly . The modern network is being further optimized in order to continuously improve quality in addition to the basic expansion . It also lays the foundation for the 5G expansion. In the first step, the mobile phone providers will set up a powerful 5G supply on the 3.6 gigahertz frequency at Alexanderplatz station.

With nine lines and 175 stations, the capital's subway network, parts of which are more than 100 years old, is one of the oldest and largest in Europe. For the network modernization in the BVG tunnels, the technicians have implemented the most comprehensive indoor mobile communications project in Germany . For the expansion, O 2 Telefónica laid more than 1,000 kilometers of fiber optic cables on the tunnel routes - that corresponds to the distance from Flensburg to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The telecommunications provider has also laid more than 1,000 kilometers of power and high-frequency cables and installed 360 tunnel antennas, 350 repeaters and 30 base stations

The offer is well received: thanks to the continuous network expansion, the daily data usage of O2 customers on the subway has increased sevenfold to around 35,000 GB since 2019. Thanks to the faster network, people can use their smartphones not only for timetable information, but also at any time during the journey to check social networks such as Instagram or for music and video streaming.

The following video explains this further:

Related Posts: 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Highlights from XGMF's Conference to Advance Millimetre Wave Technology

On April 1, 2024, two of Japan's leading connectivity organizations—the 5G Mobile Promotion Forum (5GMF) and the Beyond 5G Promotion Consortium (B5GPC)—joined forces to create the XG Mobile Promotion Forum ( XGMF ). This merger symbolizes a pivotal step in accelerating the adoption of next-generation wireless technologies. In May 2024, XGMF's Millimeter Wave Promotion Ad Hoc (Millimeter Wave AH) hosted the International Workshop on Millimeter Wave Dissemination for 5G. This event aimed to foster the adoption of millimeter wave (mmWave) technology in Japan and beyond, drawing an audience of approximately 200 attendees and broadcasting in both English and Japanese. The workshop featured opening remarks by Mr. Naohiko Ogiwara, Director of the Radio Department, Telecommunications Infrastructure Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC). Key speakers included: Mr. Takanori Mashiko (MIC, slides ) Mr. Sam Gielges (Qualcomm, online - no slides) Mr. Christopher Pric...
Post a Comment
Read more

Testing, Refining, and Improving Stratospheric Connectivity: NTT Docomo’s HAPS Trials

At MWC 2025, NTT Docomo highlighted its latest initiatives under the NTT Group's "NTT C89" space-business strategy, such as mobile-connectivity services using unmanned vehicles, or high-altitude platform stations (HAPS), that fly in the stratosphere for days or months, using relays to provide mobile connectivity in mountainous and remote areas, including at sea and in the sky. A presentation on NTT C89 Aerospace Business Strategy is available here while a presentation on NTT DOCOMO's Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) for Extreme Coverage Extension is available here . Stratospheric connectivity, enabled by High Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS), is emerging as a key solution for extending mobile coverage to remote and underserved areas. However, ensuring that these airborne platforms can provide stable, high-quality connectivity requires extensive testing and refinement. At MWC 2025, NTT Docomo showcased its progress in this domain, highlighting multiple real-world trials...
Post a Comment
Read more

How Do Apple AirTags Work?

Apple AirTags have steadily gained popularity in the smart tag market. A recent report highlighted that 69% of smart tag buyers in late 2024 chose an Apple AirTag. This marks a significant rise from 45% in early 2022. In contrast, Tile, the category pioneer now owned by Life360, has seen its market share fall to 11% from 17% during the same period. Samsung's Galaxy SmartTags now hold second place. Interestingly, the technology behind AirTags resembles concepts like Opportunity Driven Multiple Access (ODMA) or Multihop Cellular Networks (MCNs), which I have previously explored . A similar approach has also been discussed regarding Bluetooth-based Ad-Hoc networks . How Do They Work? AirTags primarily use Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to communicate with nearby Apple devices that are part of the Find My network. This vast network consists of millions of Apple devices, including iPhones, iPads, and Macs, which can detect AirTags and securely relay their location back to the owner. Addit...
Post a Comment
Read more