The 5G ship is scheduled to set sail at the end of this year
Adora Cruises and the Shanghai branch of China Telecom have announced plans to launch the world’s first 5G cruise ship. In addition to 5G, passengers on the 135,500-gross-ton vessel can also connect to Wi-Fi 6.
Adora Cruises is part of CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping Limited, a joint venture between shipbuilder China State Shipbuilding Corp (CSSC) and U.S.-based leisure travel company Carnival Corporation. According to Chen Ranfeng, CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping Limited’s managing director, the goal is to “deliver seamless multimedia interactions and consistent mobile connectivity for guests and crew” while aboard the ship.
Gong Bo, general manager of Shanghai Telecom, explained the network further, commenting that the carrier will combine 5G and satellite technology to ensure reliable and high-quality coverage, as well as introduce a host of digital applications like augmented and virtual reality.
“By seizing a first-mover advantage in the cruise industry’s 5G market, we hope to set a new standard for digital communication in the marine travel sector,” said Ranfeng. While it can’t be said for sure if the rest of the cruise ship industry will accept 5G as the new standard, Adora Cruises certainly has — the company is already designing and constructing its second 5G-capable ship.
The first 5G ship is scheduled to set sail at the end of 2023.
5G expansion continues in China
As of November 2022, Chinese operators have deployed a total of 2.29 million 5G base stations nationwide local state news agency Xinhua reported, citing data from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. This figure represents an increase of 862,000 compared to the end of 2021 and accounts for 21.1% of all mobile base stations in the country.
In December, China Telecom added 6.02 million 5G subscribers, taking its total 5G subscribers base to 262.9 million. Since the beginning of the 2022, the operator has added a total of 75.14 million 5G subscribers.
