5G revolutionizes travel experience on key China sea route

A woman makes a video call onboard a vessel. (Photo/Gao Wen)

Historically, cellular connectivity was lost during maritime travel. However, passengers journeying between Northeast China's Liaoning province and East China's Shandong province across the Bohai Sea now enjoy seamless 5G connectivity throughout their voyage.

This is thanks to China launching its first large-scale, continuous maritime 5G network covering the vital shipping corridor connecting Dalian to Yantai in June 2024. This achievement means stable, high-speed internet is available along the entire 150-kilometer route, transforming the travel experience.

Passengers embarking on the six-hour journey can now do far more than simply place calls; uninterrupted video chats and high-bandwidth online activities are readily possible aboard major ferries.

Two years after its initial deployment, what impacts has this network generated? Recently, a People's Daily reporter boarded a vessel to find out.

Mid-morning was bustling at Dalian Bay's integrated transportation hub in Liaoning province as summer travel approached. Vehicles streamed onto the lower deck of the Jilongdao, a large roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) vessel operated by COSCO Shipping Ferry, while passengers boarded via gangways. Forty minutes later, the 208-meter-long ship departed for Yantai Port. Capable of carrying over 1,300 passengers and more than 500 vehicles, the Jilongdao is among the fastest ferries operating in Chinese waters.

Following the guidance of Hu Xiaofeng, general manager of COSCO Shipping Ferry, the reporter noticed a sign above a bedside table in one of the cabins that read "Passenger Wi-Fi." After connecting, messaging, photo sharing, and other online activities worked smoothly.

Photo shows the vessel Jilongdao. (Photo courtesy of COSCO Shipping Ferry)

The upgrade has greatly enriched the passenger travel experience.

"Before maritime 5G coverage, taking the ferry basically meant going offline for hours," said Xu Hongwei, who has traveled regularly between the two regions for nearly a decade. "I usually chose overnight sailings so I could sleep through the trip."

Since 5G coverage became available, she has increasingly opted for daytime crossings. "Now I can browse on my phone, stay connected, and enjoy the sea views along the way," she said. "I've actually come to enjoy the journey."

Beyond enhancing passenger comfort, connectivity has significantly improved operational efficiency for crews and management. Previously, maintaining real-time communication with shore support was challenging. Today, crews can instantly access vital information on port conditions, navigation updates, cargo status, and weather, enabling better route planning and docking schedules. Medical emergencies benefit too, as shore-based medical assistance can be coordinated much faster.

For the ferry companies, it revolutionizes management. "Tasks previously requiring manual forms or radios can now be handled through online systems," Hu explained, "dramatically improving our digital capability." Stable mobile payment services also facilitate a wider range of onboard retail offerings.

Perhaps most critically, the 5G network bolsters maritime emergency response. When vessels encounter difficulty, real-time distress information can be immediately relayed via the 5G network to rescue coordination centers. This enables rapid dispatch of drones, unmanned surface vessels, and other smart equipment, forming what officials describe as an integrated "smart safety net" for maritime operations.

"Over the past two years, this 5G network, covering more than 20,000 square kilometers of sea area, has undergone continuous optimization and upgrading," said Li Wei, deputy director of the communications and information division of the Maritime Safety Administration's Northern Navigation Service Center. "It has truly achieved seamless capabilities for observation, communication, and data transmission."

The numbers tell the story. Following dozens of equipment upgrades, 5G coverage along the Liaoning-Shandong route has expanded by 30 percent, while signal reception strength has improved by 5 percent. Individual base stations now serve more than 2,500 users on peak days, and average daily data traffic exceeds 3 terabytes.

Stable high-bandwidth services, including messaging, voice communications, and video streaming, can be transmitted smoothly, serving more than 5 million passenger trips each year.

Building on this successful pilot, the Northern Navigation Service Center is working with maritime authorities in Tianjin, Liaoning, Hebei, and Shandong, as well as wireless carrier China Mobile, to expand maritime 5G coverage across the Bohai Sea.

"By making full use of existing maritime infrastructure and navigation support resources, while also leveraging offshore oil platforms, wind farms, and other facilities, we plan to build 48 additional 5G base stations across the Bohai Sea by the end of this year," Li said.

The ongoing expansion aims to deliver full, continuous 5G coverage over major Bohai Sea shipping routes, bringing reliable connectivity to even more vessels and passengers navigating China's northern waters.