“We do research here, it’s limited in space,” said Vodafone’s Technical Director Ingo Willimowski. At the same time, he emphasized that the journeys of the laboratory train are not autonomous driving. Autonomous driving is controlled by a computer, the teleoperator driving function only with a railcar driver, even if this is no longer in the train, explained Willimowski.

According to the group, the transmission of the data takes place in real-time. At Schlettau station, the frequency is 3.5 gigahertz and the range from the base station in two directions is 500 meters. “If the network, as here on the test track, sparked in real-time, then in the future, the home office for train drivers could become a reality,” said the responsibility for corporate customers Vodafone CEO Alexander Saul.

It is planned to equip the entire 24-kilometer test track with 5G antennas. For this, the SRCC estimates a period of three to five years. At present, they are in talks with the Free State of Saxony to get funding, said Sören Claus.

There are several examples of driverless trains that utilize 5G technology in the world Vodafone Germany driverless train

Here are a few examples:

1. China: The Beijing Subway operates a driverless train line that utilizes a 5G network for communication between the train and the control center. The line opened in late 2019 and runs on a fully automated system.
2. South Korea: The U Line in Uijeongbu, South Korea, is a fully automated train system that uses 5G technology for communication between the train and the control center. The line opened in July 2021 and is part of a larger effort to develop autonomous public transportation in the country.
3. Japan: The Yurikamome line in Tokyo, Japan, is a fully automated train system that has been in operation since 1995. The line utilizes a wireless communication system, which has been upgraded to a 5G network in recent years.
4. Germany: The Frankfurt Airport SkyLine is a driverless train system that operates between terminals at Frankfurt Airport. The system uses a 5G network for communication between the trains and the control center, and it has been in operation since 1994.
5. Spain: The Málaga Metro in Spain has a driverless train system that utilizes a 5G network for communication. The system has been in operation since 2014 and is fully automated.

These are just a few examples of driverless trains that use 5G technology. As 5G networks continue to expand and improve, we can expect to see more and more automated public transportation systems around the world.