A woman makes a video call onboard a vessel.
Historically, cellular connectivity was lost during maritime travel. However, passengers journeying between Northeast China's Liaoning province and East China's Shandong province across the Bohai Sea now enjoy seamless 5G connectivity throughout their voyage.
This is thanks to China launching its first large-scale, continuous maritime 5G network covering the vital shipping corridor connecting Dalian to Yantai in June 2024. This achievement means stable, high-speed internet is available along the entire 150-kilometre route, transforming the travel experience.
Passengers embarking on the six-hour journey can now do far more than simply place calls; uninterrupted video chats and high-bandwidth online activities are readily possible aboard major ferries.
Two years after its initial deployment, what impacts has this network generated? Recently, a People's Daily reporter boarded a vessel to find out.
