A new method of providing 5G connectivity offshore and in open waters based on a unique multi-hop principle.
Challenge
Connectivity at sea remains a challenge to this day. Traditional satellite communications offer limited bandwidth, high latency, and expensive data rates – making real-time operations, large data transfers, and modern digital services nearly impossible for vessels operating offshore.
As the maritime sector embraces digitalization, the demands are growing rapidly. Port operators need to coordinate automated processes and streamline operations. Vessels require real-time monitoring, autonomous navigation capabilities, and remote management systems. Offshore wind farms need reliable maintenance solutions. Water and aerial drones demand continuous connectivity for data transfer and control. Maritime safety providers require instant emergency response capabilities.
Maritime digitalization needs the benefits – high-speed, low-latency – conferred by 5G, however, traditional base station deployments are impractical at sea, and providing 5G coverage over large areas of open water poses a major challenge.
Solution
LMT’s 5G maritime connectivity concept transforms ships into floating base stations, creating a dynamic network across open waters through an innovative multi-hop principle.
Each equipped vessel carries a 5G base station that receives and transmits the network signal. As ships move across the sea, they pass the 5G signal from one vessel to the next, enabling seamless shore-to-ship and ship-to-ship communication. This creates a living, adaptive network that moves with maritime traffic.
The concept leverages three connectivity layers:
- Terrestrial networks from coastal base stations provide initial coverage near shore
- Ship-based stations extend the network through the multi-hop principle across open waters
- 5G non-terrestrial networks (satellites) fill coverage gaps in international waters
What makes this approach revolutionary is its efficiency – it inherits the existing terrestrial 5G infrastructure without requiring extensive new shore-side installations. The system uses AI and predictive algorithms to manage network dynamics in real-time, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity as vessels move.
The maritime 5G connectivity solution enables previously impossible applications: hydrographic surveys with water drones requiring massive data transfers, remote vessel management, autonomous navigation, predictive maintenance monitoring, automated port operations, offshore drone operations for wind farm maintenance, and enhanced maritime safety through instant emergency response.
World-first demonstration and international recognition
LMT, in collaboration with Latvian port technical services provider LVR Flote, has developed and deployed the world’s first fully-functioning maritime 5G connectivity solution based on the multi-hop principle. Following successful trials in 2023 that achieved stable connectivity 53 km from shore aboard LĪVA – the first 5G-equipped vessel in the Baltic Sea – the official demonstration took place on July 11, 2024, in the Port of Riga.
The demonstration showcased multiple vessels working in concert: pilot boat DORE delivered stable 5G connectivity to icebreaker VARMA, while sea drone OTTER broadcast seabed measurements in real-time. International observers from Lübeck, Kiel, and Hamburg ports witnessed the technology’s capability to transfer large amounts of data instantly – essential for modern maritime operations.
The innovation earned the IAPH Sustainability Award in the “Digitalization” category in 2024. Currently operational in the Gulf of Riga with multiple LVR Flote vessels, the solution is expanding to new vessels while interest surges from European ports and maritime logistics companies.
Ready to revolutionize maritime connectivity in your region? Connect with LMT to explore how this award-winning solution can transform your maritime operations and enable the next generation of digital services at sea.