Maritime Multi-Hop Communication Over 5G Networks: A Maritime Testbed Implementation and Evaluation

The maritime sector is undergoing a transformation driven by the ambition to make the ecosystem more sustainable and cost-efficient. New 5G features such as 5G Mobile Integrated Access and Backhaul (mIAB), Public Network (PN) - Non-Public Network (NPN) interaction, and Terrestrial Network (TN) - Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) connectivity open opportunities to extend 5G coverage and enhance capacity further away from the coastline. This paper describes the third stage of our multi-hop 5G testbed developed in the 5G-ROUTES project. The testbed utilizes two private and two public 5G networks complemented with a OneWeb satellite connection to support cross-border scenarios. A 2-phase validation process was used to ensure sufficient Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6-7 for maritime trials. The trials demonstrated a successful deployment of a mobile 5G multi-hop system in a maritime environment with the existing 5G technology. We successfully extended 5G coverage and capacity at sea by around 9 km without special network configurations, high transmission powers, or extreme antenna heights.