5G Cellular Communication for Maritime Applications

Recent technological advancements in mobile cellular communication have brought to light a variety of new application scenarios in the field of maritime communication that were not possible with earlier generations of cellular communication. Communication technologies in the maritime domain have diverse application scenarios with varying communication requirements. Typically, these requirements are far different and much more stringent than those commonly set for the use cases of communication technologies ashore. To date, maritime communication has mostly utilized wired connectivity for onboard critical communication, while satellite communication is utilized typically for remote connectivity to shore. However, with the advent of 5G cellular communication with the provision for adapting service quality according to different applications, several existing communication requirements can better be addressed as well as a whole set of new applications can be developed. This article presents an illustrative review of 5G cellular technology and discusses potential use cases of 5G in the maritime domain, thus paving the way towards the uptake of 5G technology for maritime applications. First, we provide a short introduction to 5G cellular technology and its key features that are relevant to maritime applications. Thereafter, we present some of the key application areas of 5G cellular technology in the maritime sector, highlighting potential application topologies. This article also highlights the key novelties in 5G that are believed to be of significance to maritime and offshore applications in the near future.