Taking Off in the Low-Altitude Economy: New Opportunities Fueled by Technology: 5G, 6G, and Integrated Sensing, Computing, and Intelligence Lead the Future

Taking Off in the Low-Altitude Economy: New Opportunities Fueled by Technology: 5G, 6G, and Integrated Sensing, Computing, and Intelligence Lead the FutureOn September 25th, during the first day of the China International Information and Communications Exhibition, ZTE Corporation hosted a "Low-Altitude Economic Industry Development Forum" titled "Creating Intelligence in the Low-Altitude, Gathering Strength for Takeoff" at the Beijing National Convention Center. The forum brought together stakeholders across the low-altitude economic industry chain to discuss industry development trends, technological innovation and application practices, unite industry forces, and help the low-altitude economy take flight

Taking Off in the Low-Altitude Economy: New Opportunities Fueled by Technology: 5G, 6G, and Integrated Sensing, Computing, and Intelligence Lead the Future

On September 25th, during the first day of the China International Information and Communications Exhibition, ZTE Corporation hosted a "Low-Altitude Economic Industry Development Forum" titled "Creating Intelligence in the Low-Altitude, Gathering Strength for Takeoff" at the Beijing National Convention Center. The forum brought together stakeholders across the low-altitude economic industry chain to discuss industry development trends, technological innovation and application practices, unite industry forces, and help the low-altitude economy take flight.

In his opening remarks, Wang Xiang, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of ZTE, pointed out that the complete readiness of policies, markets, and technology has laid a solid foundation for the explosive growth of the low-altitude economy. He emphasized that to achieve a powerful takeoff for the low-altitude economy, four things are necessary:

1. Scene Availability: Deeply explore and expand low-altitude application scenarios to promote business scale and universalization. The application scenarios of the low-altitude economy are extremely vast, ranging from logistics transportation and urban inspections to security monitoring and cultural tourism. Each area holds enormous development potential.

2. Technological Accessibility: Continuously engage in research and development innovation, continuously overcome technological bottlenecks, reduce costs, and improve efficiency. The rapid development of new-generation communication technologies like 5G and 6G has provided strong technological support for the low-altitude economy. The breakthrough of key technologies like integrated sensing, computing, and intelligence technology, and drone network communication, will further accelerate the development of the low-altitude economy.

3. Business Feasibility: Construct a reasonable business model, forming a long-term sustainable business loop to ensure the healthy development of the low-altitude economy. The low-altitude economy needs to explore feasible business models, establish a complete industrial ecosystem, and achieve virtuous cycle development.

4. Safety and Controllability: Establish a sound safety assurance system to ensure the safe conduct of low-altitude activities and provide a solid foundation for the low-altitude economy. The development of the low-altitude economy is inseparable from the construction of a safety assurance system. The improvement of safety technology, supervision mechanisms, and standard regulations will provide a guarantee for the healthy development of the low-altitude economy.

Regarding these four points, ZTE is willing to collaborate with industry partners to jointly explore new opportunities in the low-altitude economy and write a new chapter in its development.

5G and 6G Empowering Low-Altitude Intelligent Connectivity, Building an Integrated Sensing, Computing, and Intelligence Network

Bi Qi, Chief Scientist of China Telecom, believes that 5G has made significant progress in eMBB user development, but user traffic growth has gradually slowed. With the advent of the low-altitude economy, huge traffic demands will drive 5G into its second half of development. He pointed out that low-altitude logistics is one of the most crucial development directions for the low-altitude economy. To achieve scale, communication costs are estimated to need a reduction of an order of magnitude. To meet the need for low cost, China Telecom plans to utilize its already deployed 2.1G and 3.5G frequency band 5G networks, leveraging existing infrastructure to provide low-altitude coverage. At the same time, China Telecom plans to use millimeter-wave systems in an integrated sensing and communication approach to solve the problem of drone detection with high precision.

Liu Guangyi, Chief Expert of China Mobile, said that the low-altitude economy has become a significant focus of government layout and is developing rapidly. Low-altitude intelligent connected drones create new scenarios for the integration of communication, sensing, and computing, but also place extremely high demands on drone weight, size, cost, and energy consumption. He believes that by building an on-demand service system architecture that integrates sensing, computing, and intelligence, and constructing a fully covered, all-weather, high-performance integrated sensing, computing, and intelligence network, 6G will comprehensively empower low-cost, efficient, and safe low-altitude intelligent connectivity.

Low-Altitude Intelligent Connectivity System, Laying a Solid Foundation for High-Quality Development of the Low-Altitude Economy

Xi Xuyia, a senior researcher at the Low-Altitude Application Center of China Unicom Research Institute, pointed out that a low-altitude intelligent connectivity system, centered around "low-altitude communication networks, low-altitude navigation networks, low-altitude sensing networks, low-altitude computing networks, and low-altitude meteorological networks," is essential digital infrastructure for the development of the low-altitude economy. The core of China Unicom's integrated intelligent network connectivity system for land and space is the deep coordination of "terminal, network, cloud, security, data, and intelligence" in a five-in-one approach, aiming to systemically drive full-cycle industry integration, large-scale application, and lay a solid foundation for high-quality development of the low-altitude economy.

ZTE Building Low-Altitude Intelligent Network, Constructing a Digital "Sky Road"

Liu Shuang, Deputy General Manager of ZTE RAN Products, said that ZTE, relying on 5G-A integrated sensing, computing, and intelligence technology, is building a low-altitude intelligent network. Through innovative solutions such as super-wide-angle self-emitting and self-receiving sensing base stations, user-centric distributed ultra-large array D3-ELAA, and AI-based intelligent computing for precise identification of sensed targets, the company is realizing pervasive "connectivity" and easy "management" for low-altitude flying vehicles, constructing a digital "sky road" for the high-quality development of the low-altitude economy.

Urgent Need for Drone Network Communication in Areas Like Low-Altitude Logistics and Urban Inspection

Guan Ke, Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at Beijing Jiaotong University, believes that areas like low-altitude logistics, urban inspection, and security monitoring have a strong demand for drone network communication, primarily in data transmission, image transmission, and flight control. While meeting business requirements, ground networks should be reused as a priority, low-altitude networks should be built on demand, and satellite networks should provide wide-area coverage. Additionally, Professor Guan hopes to leverage autonomous and controllable high-performance ray-tracing technology to build a world-leading accurate, efficient, and visual electromagnetic environment digital twin platform to support the high-quality development of high-quality tracks such as the low-altitude economy and new infrastructure, driving the digital transformation of the economy and society.

Full-Element Data Acquisition Brings Breakthroughs to the Low-Altitude Economy

At the forum, Chen Sicong, founder of Ruhe Xuanwu, shared innovative solutions and achievements in low-altitude data acquisition, emphasized the significance of full-element data acquisition, and introduced intelligent surveying and real-time technology. He showcased the value of the "Zhilong No. 1" flood warning vehicle and automatic hangar in combination with 5G-A technology in inspection and cultural tourism data acquisition, bringing breakthroughs to the low-altitude economy.

Conclusion:

This forum not only discussed the challenges and opportunities facing the low-altitude economy but also looked ahead to the vast prospects of technological innovation and application. Close collaboration among stakeholders will inject strong impetus into this emerging industry, driving the construction of a more open, integrated, and innovative low-altitude economic ecosystem, facilitating leapfrog development, and adding strong momentum to China's high-quality economic development.

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