China rolls out first 5G network capable of connecting 10,000 military robots

Chinese scientists have developed a mobile communication system that can move through complex terrain and connect 10,000 military robots within a 3-km radius.

China has announced what it says is the world's first military 5G mobile base station, which, after passing rigorous tests, is now ready for field deployment, according to the South China Morning Post .

5G logo image seen in China

The 5G base station was jointly developed by China Mobile Communications Corporation and the People's Liberation Army (PLA). The research was peer-reviewed in the journal Science and Technology of China on December 17.

The station can provide high-speed, low-latency, secure and reliable data exchange services to at least 10,000 devices such as robots within a 3-km radius. The system maintains a stable connection even when the military moves the devices at a speed of 80 km/h over complex terrain such as mountains or cities and is subject to electromagnetic interference.

The breakthrough paves the way for the widespread use of smart technology in future conflicts. China is building powerful yet cheap unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), robot dogs, and other unmanned combat platforms that are expected to outnumber humans on future battlefields.

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However, current military communications technologies cannot meet the huge data exchange needs between thousands of robots. Military 5G differs significantly from the civilian version in requiring uninterrupted connectivity when there is no ground base station or when satellite signals are weakened.

In addition, antennas mounted on communication vehicles should not be higher than 3 meters to avoid hitting obstacles such as buildings or trees, but this seriously affects the coverage of high-quality signals.

To solve this problem, Chinese military scientists and engineers have developed a platform that can be mounted on the roof of a military vehicle to serve as a "base" for 3-4 UAVs. These UAVs can take off in rotation during the process and act as an airborne base station. Then, if the UAV's battery is running low, it can hand over the task to another aircraft and automatically land on the roof of the vehicle to recharge.

The PLA has conducted numerous tests on the system, claiming it "effectively solves problems such as frequent disconnections and low speeds encountered in actual applications" and can be "deployed safely, reliably and quickly".

PLA members operate Type 96A tanks at the 2022 International Army Games

A major threat to military 5G is electromagnetic interference, which can come not only from adversaries but also from friendly forces operating in the same area. In the face of that challenge, the development team says these issues are addressed through technological innovation and equipment upgrades.

China's military 5G systems also use the latest civilian technologies. As of November 2024, China had built nearly 4.2 million civilian 5G base stations, far exceeding any other country in the world.

"Operating such a large network necessarily requires powerful automation tools and means, including automatic base station opening technology. It can automatically complete core network base station data generation, data download, base parameter configuration and other tasks," the research team said.

In 2020, the US also launched what it claimed was the world's largest 5G militarization campaign, but progress has been slow due to technical challenges. Currently, weapons manufacturer Lockheed Martin and telecommunications company Verizon are working together to build a similar system and are conducting small-scale tests.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/trung-quoc-trien-khai-mang-5g-dau-tien-co-kha-nang-ket-noi-10000-robot-quan-doi-185241231085347116.htm