Even as China is said to be building the largest unmanned army in the world, its military communication technologies got a major upgrade with the introduction of the first mobile 5G base station in the world.
The mobile 5G base station, developed jointly by China Mobile Communications Group and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), can offer high-speed, secure and reliable data exchange services to at least 10,000 users within a 3km radius, according to a South China Morning Post report.
The technology will ensure that there is uninterrupted communication connectivity even when the troops are advancing at high speeds in complex terrains like mountains or cities.
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PLA, which has various unmanned combat platforms, need uninterrupted connectivity but does not always have ground base stations. Besides, the antenna on communication vehicles should not be too tall to avoid obstacles such as trees or buildings. To overcome these difficulties, scientists have developed a platform that can be mounted on a military vehicle to house a few drones. These drones then serve as an aerial base station.
According to PLA, the system can solve issues such as frequent disconnections and low speeds encountered in practical applications, offering a safe, reliable and rapid deployment.
Although electromagnetic interference is a threat to military 5G, innovation and equipment upgrades could help in resolving this, according to the project team led by senior engineer Hou Jie with PLA.
