Demonstration of aerial vehicle-based mobile communication service (Image courtesy of ETRI)
DAEJEON, Feb. 7 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean researchers have developed groundbreaking technology that can establish temporary mobile communication networks from the air when ground infrastructure is disabled by disasters such as fires or warfare.
The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) announced on February 6 that it successfully demonstrated mobile communication services achieving speeds of 1.3 Gbps over a 2.5-kilometer distance between aerial vehicles and ground systems in Taean County, South Chungcheong Province, late last year.
The system achieved transmission speeds of 300 Mbps at a distance of 10 kilometers, marking a significant improvement over current aerial-to-ground wireless communication technology, which is limited to speeds of around 40 Mbps within 5 kilometers. Existing systems could only manage tens of kbps at 20 kilometers, making large-capacity long-distance communication impossible.
The newly developed system can smoothly transmit multi-channel 4K ultra-high-definition (UHD) video even at 10-kilometer distances. By equipping drones and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) vehicles with 5G small cells and mobile backhaul terminals, the system can rapidly establish communication networks in disaster scenarios where traditional infrastructure has been compromised.
To overcome drone power limitations, the system was designed with a wired power supply. In areas where wired operation is impossible, communication services can be maintained through aerial system switching.
The technology incorporates solutions for overcoming the short transmission distance limitations of millimeter-wave bands (electromagnetic waves in the 30-300 GHz frequency range) while providing broadband high-speed data transmission.
ETRI demonstrated disaster response services using this technology at the Drone Park in Munpyeong-dong, Daedeok District, Daejeon, last month. The research team has completed three technology transfers to UAM aircraft developers and unmanned aerial vehicle communication specialists.
“Beyond disaster response, this technology can be utilized for search and rescue operations, remote medical care for emergency patients, urgent security needs, protection services, and reconnaissance in areas with limited communication infrastructure, such as maritime and mountainous regions,” said Bae Jeong-sook, head of ETRI’s Intelligent Wireless Access Research Laboratory.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
