In order to improve rail passengers’ mobile connections along railways in (usually) sparsely populated areas the FPS Economy has launched a call for projects.
Thanks to that subsidy existing GSM-R pylons can be upgraded to 5G technology to be used by commercial mobile network operators.
For the call for projects a subsidy budget of 11,200,000 euro has been set.
The allocation of the available budget will be split into three options:
- upgrade to 5G-ready GSM-R pylons;
- installing extra antennas on existing pylons;
- adjusting antennas in the direction of the track on existing pylons.
Project proposals can be submitted at 5grail@economie.fgov.be until 06 September 2023.
More information about how you can participate can be found on the Projectoproep 2023-5G Rail page on the website of the FPS Economy. (FR - NL)