One ticket – conveniently throughout Germany. With the Deutschland-Ticket (D-Ticket) you can now travel easily on all public transport for only 49 euros per month. Now available online, in the app and in the DB travel centers. To ensure seamless coverage, Vodafone has been increasing its mobile communication network expansion efforts along railway lines since the beginning of 2022. In 2023 alone, Vodafone has erected more than 100 new mobile phone masts, closing supply gaps and improving the quality of network coverage for train passengers. Deutsche Bahn Mobile network coverage

Many commuters on regional routes, as well as ICE and IC passengers on important long-distance routes, are set to benefit from these improvements. With the increase in mobile data traffic from the use of smartphones on the train, Vodafone’s Technical Director, Tanja Richter, expects a slight increase in data consumption along commuter routes.

User benefits Deutsche Bahn Mobile network coverage

• Unlimited travel for only 49 euros per month
• Valid throughout Germany  for all means of public transport
• Monthly cancellable
• 49 euros

Data Consumption Slightly Increased After the Introduction of the Deutschlandticket

Vodafone conducted an exclusive evaluation of popular commuter routes after the launch of the nine-euro ticket last June. The data volume on routes between Dortmund and Münster, Essen and Duisburg, Cologne and Düsseldorf, Nuremberg and Würzburg, as well as Donauwörth and Munich, increased only minimally by a few percentage points in the past year. The nine-euro ticket was a one-time special offer limited to the months of June, July, and August 2022, and it was sold 52 million times. In June, more than 850 gigabytes of data were transferred in the Vodafone network along the railway routes listed. Vodafone recorded the most data traffic on the route between Düsseldorf and Cologne. Once the offer expired, data traffic went back to the original level.

Vodafone’s Network Expansion Along Railway Lines

Vodafone opened a total of 400 new locations along railway lines in the past year to improve network coverage for commuters in particular. Most construction projects were in Bavaria (60) and Lower Saxony (50), followed by North Rhine-Westphalia and Brandenburg with 32 stations each. Vodafone also implemented over 2,500 site upgrades in the past 16 months, resulting in higher data rates for passengers on trains. Furthermore, Vodafone increased transmission capacity by 33% in important tunnels on ICE routes where network expansion is particularly challenging. Vodafone’s real-time network 5G+ (5G standalone) is already available on more than 50% of railway lines, covering more than 15,000 kilometers of track. Of Germany’s 3,250 train stations, 1,750 already have 5G coverage, and 600 of them have 5G coverage indoors. Vodafone is currently working on increasing capacity at Berlin Central Station and expanding 5G coverage indoors in Berlin and Frankfurt stations.

Status Quo: More Work to be Done Deutsche Bahn Mobile network coverage

While Vodafone’s expansion measures have benefitted rail passengers and commuters, there is still much to be done to provide a stable mobile network for all rail lines. A stable mobile network is essential for rail passengers who use their smartphones on the go, whether it’s for sending emails, phoning family, or streaming music.

Infrastructure Partnership between Vodafone and Deutsche Bahn

An infrastructure partnership between Vodafone and Deutsche Bahn aims to expand mobile communication networks along heavily frequented train routes. By 2025, Vodafone aims to provide a seamless LTE mobile network with high bandwidths to those passengers on Deutsche Bahn trains who use the Vodafone network. Moreover, Vodafone will activate its 5G+ network on Germany’s ICE routes by 2025, providing rail passengers with high bandwidths and particularly short response times for the first time.

Vodafone is also pushing for the expansion of mobile communications along branch lines to achieve almost nationwide mobile coverage here by 2024. In addition to the infrastructure partnership with Deutsche Bahn, Vodafone is also working with other partners to expand its network coverage along railway lines. For example, the company is partnering with Telefónica Deutschland to expand mobile network coverage in the Saarland and Palatinate regions. Vodafone is also investing in small cell technology to improve network coverage in densely populated areas such as train stations and city centers.”

Overall, Vodafone’s network expansion along railway lines and infrastructure partnerships are helping to improve mobile network coverage for rail passengers and commuters. With the launch of the Deutschlandticket, the company expects a slight increase in mobile data traffic along commuter routes. However, there is still much work to be done to ensure that all rail lines have a stable supply of fast mobile communications. Vodafone’s ongoing efforts to expand its network coverage and upgrade its infrastructure will help to address this issue and provide a better mobile experience for rail passengers across Germany. Deutsche Bahn Mobile network coverage

In addition to the infrastructure partnership with Deutsche Bahn, Vodafone is also working with other partners to expand its network coverage along railway lines. For example, in cooperation with the state of Bavaria, Vodafone is gradually expanding the LTE coverage along regional rail routes, ensuring that commuters and travelers have stable and fast mobile internet access on their journeys.

Furthermore, Vodafone is also investing in new technologies such as 5G and edge computing to improve network performance and enable new use cases for train passengers. For example, 5G networks can provide extremely high bandwidths and low latencies, allowing passengers to stream high-quality video and play online games on the train.

Finally, Vodafone is also exploring new ways to improve the customer experience for train passengers. For example, the company is working on new digital services and applications that can enhance the travel experience, such as real-time travel information, personalized entertainment, and mobile ticketing solutions.

Overall, Vodafone is committed to providing reliable and high-quality mobile network coverage along railway lines, ensuring that commuters and travelers can stay connected and productive on their journeys. With the launch of the Deutschlandticket, the company expects to see a slight increase in mobile data traffic on the network and is well prepared to handle this additional demand with its extensive network expansion and modernization measures.

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