According to a report by the South China Morning Post, China has developed the world's first military 5G mobile communication system capable of traversing complex terrains. It claims to have undergone rigorous testing and is now ready for combat deployment, capable of simultaneously connecting at least 10,000 military robots within a radius of 3 kilometers.
The report on the 31st by SCMP indicates that a project team led by Gao Hujie (phonetic translation), a senior engineer from Unit 31567 of the People’s Liberation Army, published a peer-reviewed paper on December 17, 2024, in the Chinese Journal of "Telecommunications Science," detailing this technology.
According to the report, this system was jointly developed by China Mobile Communications Group and the PLA, capable of providing high-speed, low-latency, extremely secure and reliable data exchange services for at least 10,000 users within a 3-kilometer radius.
The paper states that even if PLA units move at a speed of 80 km/h in mountainous, urban, or other complex terrains, and are subjected to electromagnetic interference, the system can still maintain continuous transmission speed with a delay not exceeding 15 milliseconds.
The report claims that this advancement clears the way for the large-scale use of intelligent war machines. China is building the world's largest robotic army, with the number of these powerful and inexpensive drones, robotic dogs, and other forms of unmanned combat platforms expected to surpass human soldiers on future battlefields. However, current military communication technologies cannot meet the massive data exchange needs between thousands of robots.
Military 5G is Different from Civilian Version
The report mentions that military 5G is very different from the civilian version. The PLA requires continuous connectivity without ground base stations or satellite signals being disrupted. Moreover, the antenna height on communication vehicles must not exceed 3 meters to avoid obstacles such as buildings or trees. But this severely affects the coverage of high-quality signals.
To solve this problem, scientists from China Mobile and military engineers developed a platform that can be installed on the tops of military vehicles, holding 3 to 4 drones. These drones can alternately take off during marches and serve as aerial base stations. If a drone's battery is about to deplete, it can hand over the task to another drone and automatically land on the vehicle's rooftop for charging.
The paper claims that the PLA has conducted "multiple tests" on this system, confirming it can effectively "solve problems encountered in practical applications such as frequent disconnections and slow speeds," thereby achieving "secure, reliable, and rapid deployment."
The main threat to military 5G is electromagnetic interference, which can come not only from the enemy but also from friendly forces in the same area.
Gao Hujie's team claims that these issues have been resolved through technological innovation and equipment upgrades. For instance, small communication terminals on the user end can transmit data at ultra-high power up to 400 megawatts when subjected to electromagnetic suppression, and still maintain long-term operation with minimal energy consumption.
Gao Hujie's paper claims that although this result satisfies the US military, it falls far short of the PLA’s minimum requirements.