Správa Železnic Launches €7M Prague Corridor 5G Tender

PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC – Správa železnic issued a public tender in March 2026 valued at up to CZK 168.7 million (€7 million) to deploy 5G trackside transmission infrastructure along the Prague–Česká Třebová railway corridor. The winning contractor will deliver technical designs and civil works across five base locations before early 2028. Commercial mobile network operators will subsequently install transmission hardware to supply passenger connectivity and support operational radio networks.

What Does This Contract Cover?

The contract requires the technical design and construction of five standalone transmission towers along the 164-kilometre Prague–Česká Třebová rail corridor. The scope mandates dual-use structural capability to host both commercial 5G antennas for passenger mobile voice and data services and rail operations hardware, including the existing GSM-R network. The infrastructure must also support future migration to the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) under European Union baseline standards. The commercial terms do not bundle active telecommunications hardware; physical masts and power feeds fall under this tender, whereas active radio access network equipment will be installed separately by commercial mobile carriers.

Key Contract Data

How Does This Compare to Similar Contracts?

The CZK 168.7 million capital allocation expands upon earlier state-funded corridor connectivity projects, specifically a CZK 73 million (€3.01 million) contract delivered by signalling supplier AŽD Praha (Source: Správa železnic, 2024). That predecessor contract, financed via the Czech Republic’s National Recovery Plan, installed active digital mobile coverage inside the Vítkov and Krasíkov rail tunnels under restricted overnight possessions. While the tunnel installation cost approximately CZK 36.5 million per tunnel complex, the new surface tender averages CZK 33.74 million per transmission site. Across the Baltic region, Latvijas dzelzceļš executed similar private 5G rail trials focused strictly on autonomous yard shunting and telemetry rather than passenger coverage (Source: Telecompaper, 2025). The identity of shortlisted engineering bidders and unit pricing for structural mast manufacturing were not disclosed at time of publication.

Editor’s Analysis

Správa železnic is using passive trackside infrastructure tenders to shift the commercial capital expenditure of high-speed rail communications away from commercial operators while guaranteeing carrier-neutral coverage. This structure aligns with the broader growth trend in the Czech railway technology supply chain, where domestic suppliers led by AŽD and Škoda Group have reported record export volumes tied directly to European Train Control System (ETCS) and digital communications integration (Source: Rail Technology Magazine, 2025). By engineering the masts to FRMCS mechanical specifications today, the infrastructure manager avoids costly mast replacements when GSM-R reaches supplier end-of-life status across Central Europe around 2035.

FAQ

Q: Why is Správa železnic building transmission towers instead of commercial telecom companies?
A: Správa železnic builds the neutral trackside civil infrastructure so that multiple licensed mobile network operators can install antennas without duplicating line-side construction. This arrangement ensures equal coverage along the corridor while safeguarding track access controls.

Q: What is the total budget and completion deadline for the works?
A: The tender sets a ceiling budget of CZK 168.7 million (€7 million) for the complete design and build package. Správa železnic requires all five transmission stations to be fully finished by early 2028.

Q: Will the new radio towers carry safety-critical rail communications?
A: Yes, each tower is designed to co-locate commercial 5G passenger equipment alongside trackside GSM-R transmitters that interface with on-board ETCS train control systems. In the future, these installations will support the European rail sector’s transition to FRMCS.