Vienna, October, 2026 – Kontron Transportation has been awarded a contract by AKN Eisenbahn GmbH to implement a modern MCx-based railway communication solution.

With this project, AKN is taking an important step toward future-proof, reliable, and digital railway communications. The solution enables mission-critical communications over public LTE and 5G mobile networks, creating the foundation for an efficient modernization of railway radio communications, particularly on regional and secondary rail lines. AKN Eisenbahn operates in Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein and plays an important role in regional rail transport. The company connects communities through a rail network of more than 100 kilometers and transports millions of passengers every year.

Like many regional railway operators, AKN faced the challenge of replacing existing communication systems while ensuring operational continuity, safety, and cost efficiency. Kontron Transportation’s MCx solution is based on international mission-critical standards and is designed to meet future FRMCS requirements. Rather than building a dedicated radio infrastructure, the solution operates over public mobile networks using an over-the-top approach. This enables railway operators to introduce modern train radio functionalities quickly, flexibly, and cost-effectively.

For AKN, the introduction of MCx delivers immediate benefits, including real-time communications and reliable emergency call functions that enhance operational safety. At the same time, the solution positions AKN for a gradual evolution toward FRMCS and other digital applications.

Kontron Transportation already has extensive practical experience with MCx-based train radio solutions. In Germany, more than 1,500 railway kilometers across various regional railway infrastructure operators have been equipped with the solution. This further underlines Kontron’s leading role in the digitalization of railway communications on regional and secondary railways and demonstrates that modern, standards-based communications can be deployed reliably in railway operations even without dedicated radio infrastructure.