Rail communication: Kontron and Qualcomm develop 5G FRMCS modem

Rail communication

Andrea Gillhuber, 03.09.2025, 14:17

Kontron and Qualcomm develop 5G FRMCS Modem

Kontron and Qualcomm jointly announce a new PC3 modem based on the Snapdragon X72 5G modem RF system for FRMCS as part of the 'Morane 2' initiative. It supports specific railroad frequency bands and is designed to enable secure, high-speed communication in European rail transportation.

Kontron and Qualcomm Technologies are jointly developing a new PC3 modem for the 'Future Railway Mobile Communication System' (FRMCS), tailor-made for the European rail communication initiative 'Morane 2'. FRMCS is to be the future 5G communication system for rail operations in Europe and meet demanding requirements for safety, speed and reliability.

The 'Morane 2' initiative (FP2-MORANE-2) is a European project that aims to test and validate the FRMCS in real-life conditions. The aim is to refine the specifications of the new radio system and create market-ready standards for a more efficient, sustainable and digital railroad. The project is coordinated by the International Union of Railways (UIC) and funded by the Europe's Rail (EU-Rail) and European Smart Networks and Services (SNS JU) initiatives.

Technical details

The new modem is based on the Snapdragon X72 5G modem RF system. Frequency bands specially reserved for rail traffic are to be used: n100 (900 MHz FDD with 5 MHz bandwidth), n101 (1900 MHz TDD with 10 MHz bandwidth) and the public band n28. Kontron is responsible for the design and development, integrating the RF system into a railway-compliant hardware solution and thus focusing on reliable communication for both operational processes and passenger traffic.

Statements from the cooperation partners

"We are very pleased to be working with Qualcomm Technologies to bring the power of 5G to the rail sector," says Hannes Niederhauser, CEO of Kontron. "The Snapdragon X72 5G modem RF system provides the performance and resilience required for MORANE 2. Together we are setting new standards for railroad communication."

Enrico Salvatori, Senior Vice President and President of Qualcomm Europe, added: "We are pleased to announce this collaboration with Kontron on 5G FRMCS modems - an important step in the transformation of European rail systems through improved connectivity."

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