For a better mobile network
DB invests 50 million euros in laser treatment
October 29, 2023, 2:14 p.m
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Many Deutsche Bahn travelers complain about poor cell phone reception on the trains. That should now change thanks to laser technology. The company is spending a lot of money on this.
Cell phone reception for passengers on Deutsche Bahn long-distance trains is to be improved by post-treatment of the window panes. In the coming years, 70,000 windows on 3,300 ICE and IC cars will be processed with a laser. The newspaper reports about this “Picture on Sunday”, a railway spokesman confirmed the plan. The company is spending 50 million euros on this.
The process involves incorporating a delicate pattern into the thin metal coating of the windows, which blocks both light and cell phone signals. Mobile phone signals reach the train directly via the windows. Previously, this required repeaters in the trains. The repeaters also eliminate a potential source of error.
Railway board member Michael Peterson told the newspaper: “With laser technology, we are improving mobile phone reception on the train. Our new ICE trains are already equipped with window panes that are transparent to mobile radio.” Technical director Daniela Gerd tom Markotten added: “Once lasered, the windows allow mobile phone signals from all providers and all current and future mobile phone standards into the train almost unhindered.”