From Black Box to Blueprint: A Case Study in 5G Maritime Network Assessment

As the global economy increasingly turns to the seas—a domain often called the "blue economy"—the demand for reliable, high-speed digital communication has moved far beyond the shoreline. For industries like offshore fishing, commercial shipping, and marine tourism, connectivity is no longer a luxury; it's a critical lifeline for safety, efficiency, and innovation. However, the unique and challenging marine environment often creates a "black box" of inconsistent coverage and performance bottlenecks.

This case study delves into the Zhejiang Provincial Sea Area Operator Network Coverage Assessment Project—a monumental undertaking to systematically map and measure the 4G and 5G network capabilities across the entire coastal region of Zhejiang, China. The project not only illuminated the true state of maritime connectivity but also created a blueprint for building a safer, more productive, and truly "Smart Ocean."

Challenge: Addressing Critical Communication Gaps at Sea

Zhejiang province, with its 605 km of baseline coastline, is a powerhouse of marine economic activity. Yet, its vast sea areas faced significant communication hurdles that threatened both safety and growth. The core challenge was a lack of precise, actionable data on network performance where it mattered most.

Policy and Industrial Imperatives:

• Economic Growth: The national strategy to develop the marine economy put a spotlight on the need for stable communication to support Zhejiang's thriving fishing, shipping, and tourism sectors.
• Maritime Safety: Emergency rescue operations and real-time vessel monitoring are fundamentally dependent on reliable network access. Existing coverage gaps and slow data speeds posed a direct risk to lives and assets at sea.

Technical and Logistical Hurdles:

• Extreme Coverage Fluctuations: The open sea is a hostile environment for radio signals. Factors like base station distance, frequency bands (especially 5G's higher frequencies), and sea surface reflection caused network coverage to vary wildly, from less than a kilometer to over 40 km.
• Differentiated Service Quality: The assessment needed to go beyond simple signal bars. It was discovered that voice service coverage was often adequate while data-intensive services, crucial for modern applications, suffered dramatically. In far-sea areas, 5G speeds frequently plummeted.
• Immense Scale and Complexity: Testing across approximately 4,500 km of sea routes, extending an average of 46 km from the coast, required a robust methodology that could account for vessel movement, unpredictable weather, and the distinct characteristics of three separate operator networks (China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom).

The Solution: Deploying a Data-Driven, All-Service Assessment System

To conquer these challenges, the project team designed a comprehensive technical solution to systematically measure and analyze the network reality across Zhejiang's waters.

1. Designing a Rigorous Assessment System

The solution was built on a foundation of detailed planning and a multi-faceted approach to testing.

• Test Scope: The assessment used the official sea baseline as a reference, extending tests to the absolute limits of each operator's coverage to identify true boundaries.
• Comprehensive Service Scenarios:
  • Data Services: To simulate real-world usage, the team ran multi-threaded upload and download tests (30 threads per test) with an automatic re-connection protocol to accurately capture performance during intermittent connectivity.
  • Voice Services: Using 5G VoNR (Voice over New Radio), the system placed and received 180-second calls, with real-time quality evaluated by a MOS (Mean Opinion Score) box using the advanced POLQA algorithm.
• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): The analysis focused on a holistic set of metrics, including:
  • Coverage Strength: RSRP / SS-RSRP
  • Signal Quality: SINR / SS-SINR
  • Service Success Rate: For both data sessions and voice calls.
  • Throughput Distribution: Categorizing speeds into high, medium, and low to understand the practical user experience.

2. Deploying a State-of-the-Art Product Solution

Executing this vision required specialized tools capable of withstanding the rigors of marine testing while delivering precise data.

• Test Equipment: The core hardware included the Pilot Matrix 5G test terminal, capable of simultaneous 4G/5G dual-mode testing, and Pilot Walktour for data collection.
• Analysis Software: Data was processed using Pilot Pioneer Expert, a powerful platform that enabled GIS-based trace visualization and multi-dimensional KPI statistical analysis. This allowed the team to transform raw data into intuitive maps and charts.

The Results: Delivering Actionable Insights and Economic Value

The project's value extended far beyond a simple report card for network operators. It delivered transformative insights that are now shaping the future of Zhejiang's marine economy and safety governance.

1. Enhancing Maritime Safety and Fueling Industrial Growth

• A Lifeline for Emergency Rescue: The project validated that the voice call success rate exceeded 88% in key areas like Zhoushan. This data provides critical assurance for the reliability of communication systems used to safeguard the lives of fishermen and shipping personnel.
• Creating the "Sea Area Network Capability Map": The project's primary output was a detailed, data-driven map of network performance. This invaluable tool supports the digital transformation of the marine industry by enabling:
  • Intelligent Fishery Monitoring: Real-time data from fishing vessels.
  • High-Definition Video Backhaul: For shipping logistics and remote inspections.
  • Enhanced Tourist Experiences: Reliable connectivity for island tourism. This clarity is projected to unlock billions in economic potential.

2. Guiding Scientific Network Construction

• Exposing Coverage Deficiencies for Targeted Investment: The assessment revealed critical weaknesses, such as over 10% of far-sea 5G downlink speeds falling below 5Mbps. This hard data is now driving collaborative efforts between operators to optimize base station deployment and resolve technical bottlenecks.
• Developing an Innovative, Replicable Methodology: The project pioneered the "sea baseline extension testing" method, creating a standardized assessment template that can be adopted by coastal provinces nationwide. This work directly supports the national "Marine New Infrastructure" strategy.

Conclusion: Paving the Way for a Connected "Smart Ocean"

The Zhejiang Provincial Sea Area Network Coverage Assessment Project successfully demystified the "black box" of maritime communication. By replacing assumptions with high-precision data, it has laid a scientific foundation for building a robust, reliable, and intelligent "Smart Ocean" communication base.

This case study stands as a testament to the power of systematic, data-driven analysis in solving complex infrastructure challenges. It provides a clear blueprint for how public and private sectors can collaborate to chart a course toward a safer, more connected, and economically vibrant future on the high seas.