Latvians showcase first-ever fully-functioning 5G maritime connectivity concept
Latvian mobile innovator and telco operator LMT, in collaboration with Latvian port technical services provider LVR Fleet, has conducted a successful 5G maritime connectivity concept demonstration.
It showcased fully functioning 5G network connectivity from shore to ship, between ships, and between ships and drones.
Sam Chambers July 17, 2024
The demo was held in the Port of Riga and was the first known full-scale demonstration of such a solution.
The demonstration showcased the 5G multi-hop principle as it ensured communication between several LVR Fleet vessels. A pilot boat, Dore, delivered stable 5G network connectivity, which was demonstrated through Dore’s communication with a Latvian icebreaker ship, Varma. Additionally, a floating drone, Otter, broadcast seabed measurements and remote video of what was happening on the water. LMT’s aerial 5G drone carried out the video transmission, providing added visibility. The established 5G connectivity also enabled the transfer of large amounts of data in real-time.
“The sea presents a challenge for high-quality, high-speed communications that can be successfully addressed with 5G-powered technologies. The deployment of maritime 5G networks and solutions has the potential to enable fast data transmission in circumstances where vast amounts of data need to be transmitted from ship to ship or from ship to port in a short time, as traditional data transmission methods do not allow the necessary speed,” said Juris Binde, president of LMT
Within the 5G maritime connectivity concept, the 5G network signal is passed from one ship to the next, enabling shore-to-ship and ship-to-ship communication in the sea. The concept foresees a 5G network and 5G base station deployed on the ship. Combined with short-range networks from land stations and 5G non-terrestrial networks to cover international waters, it can enable many new 5G use cases.