The ocean has become a strategic highland for high-quality development. Building modern marine ranches and developing the deepsea and offshore aquaculture industry through advances like deepwater net cages and aquaculture vessels has been highly valued in China.
To improve coverage of the marine internet and support development of the marine economy, China United Network Communications Group Co., Ltd. (China Unicom) has sped up construction of the 5G network along the coastlines and in the near and far-sea areas.
What's more, relying on the new technologies such as big data, cloud computing, the internet of things (IoT) and the Navigation Satellite System, the company has built innovative applications like smart fishing boats which has laid a foundation for digital innovation and empowered the development of a marine economy in South China's Guangdong Province.
A technician of China Unicom installs devices on a 5G base station to further marine internet construction. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
5G supports transformation and upgrading of fishing industry
Located at the southernmost area of mainland China, Zhanjiang is a city born from the sea and with abundant seafood resources. China Unicom is responsible there for internet support of more than 1,200 kilometers of the coastline and guarantees the integrated smart management of more than 10,000 fishing boats, ensuring safety of fishermen while boosting local economic growth and residents' income.
Giving full play to innovative technologies such as the deepsea IoT and satellite remote sensing, China Unicom has built a deepsea net cage big data system platform in Zhanjiang and launched sub-systems for deepsea big data, global logistics and online virtual reality (VR) exhibitions.
Based on the platform and systems, live video of the deep-sea net cage farming sites and data like salinity, dissolved oxygen levels, and pH values collected by the sensors can be transmitted in real time as part of intelligent deepsea net cage farming.
At the same time, construction of deepsea farming monitoring and management, public services of the entire industrial chain and smart fishing demonstration projects has played a role in protection of the marine environment, marine fishery production and fishing product promotion as well as regional brand building.
5G ensures safe and highly-efficient operation of fishing boats
Marine fishing is one of the key industries in Yangjiang with its 458.6 kilometers of coastline. Therefore, guaranteeing fishing boat management and safeguarding fishermen's safety at sea is a key issue for local government.
In response to the demand, China Unicom joined hands with Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. and built China's first solution combining a 5G-based marine dedicated network and the 5G digital fishing boat system. The internet has an uploading and downloading speed of 2Mbps and 60Mbps, which provides a strong internet guarantee for development of the marine economy.
Based on various technologies like 5G, cloud computing, the IoT and Beidou navigation positioning, the 5G digital fishing boat system can realize 24/7 real-time monitoring of fishing boat operation.
The system has been used by more than 4,000 fishing boats, which has helped local fishing departments reduce the impact of typhoons and storms as well as improved supervision of over-fishing.
A bird's-eye view of the 5G smart fishing boat project in Yangjiang, Guangdong [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
5G helps provide safe operation service for fishing
Located in the coastal area of Southwest Guangdong, Maoming ranks top in aquatic product output in the region and has 1,140 boats operating for fishing. However, fishing boat accidents have increased in number in recent years, with stepped up difficulty in rescue operations.
China Unicom has strengthened internet coverage along the coastlines in Maoming and launched digital services like stable voice calls, communication data and boat positioning. When a fishing boat is in danger, its crew can send SOS information and the boat's position to rescue staff simply by pushing a red button installed on the boat.
In addition, to improve safety supervision and service, China Unicom also built a smart fishing boat information system in Dianbai District in Maoming that realizes real-time monitoring of boat information, gives typhoon warnings and sends notices of behavior that may violate regulations.
At present, the system serves 1,140 fishing boats, guaranteeing sustainable development of the marine industry.
A staff member of China Unicom adjusts the internet settings at a marine internet station in Maoming, Guangdong. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
(Executive editor: Xie Yunxiao)
