Sci-Tech

Strengthening information and communication to support low altitude economy

2026-03-23   

From the communication and navigation monitoring facilities widely used in civil aviation systems such as radar and ADS-B, to the new generation of information and communication facilities such as 5G/5G-A and satellite Internet, all kinds of low altitude infrastructure are important bases for the healthy and orderly development of low altitude economy. Recently, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and five other departments issued the "Implementation Opinions on Strengthening the Capacity Building of the Information and Communication Industry to Support the Development of Low altitude Infrastructure", strengthening the coordinated development of the information and communication industry and low altitude equipment manufacturing industry, continuously improving the technological foundation, industrial supply capacity, network support capacity, and security guarantee capacity of the information and communication industry, and laying a solid foundation for the healthy and orderly development of the low altitude economy. The information and communication industry has abundant network resources and comprehensive information service capabilities, which can effectively support the construction of information infrastructure such as low altitude communication, surveillance, navigation, and intelligent networking systems, and help promote the development of low altitude economy. The information and communication industry is not a supporting industry, but a solid foundation for the low altitude economy from industry to ecology. ”Zhou Jing, Director of the Pan Terminal Research Center at China Unicom Research Institute, stated that the low altitude economy is a strategic emerging industry highly dependent on information drive, and is moving from pilot to large-scale development. Its bottleneck is not in aircraft, but in "connectivity, management, and good use". The information and communication industry will help the low altitude economy break free from "individual limitations" and move towards "scale intelligence". At the same time, it can integrate multiple elements such as communication, navigation, surveillance, meteorology, and computing power, turning non renewable airspace resources into flexible digital assets that can be dispatched. At present, China has built the world's leading and largest information and communication network in terms of technology. Information and communication companies are actively exploring low altitude communication, perception, and other practical applications based on 5G/5G-A technology, forming typical application scenarios such as low altitude logistics distribution, water area inspection, and police security. However, they still face challenges such as untapped application needs, immature technical standards, and incomplete industrial ecology. To this end, the "Opinions" focus on strengthening the capacity building of the information and communication industry, deploying 10 key tasks, and proposing that by 2027, the coverage rate of ground mobile communication networks in low altitude public air routes nationwide should not be less than 90%, diverse fusion perception schemes should be further improved and mature, the level of low altitude navigation services should continue to improve, and no less than 10 information infrastructure standards should be developed to form a number of typical low altitude application scenarios for urban governance, logistics transportation, cultural tourism and other fields. Zhang Linshan, a researcher at the Macroeconomic Research Institute of the National Development and Reform Commission, stated that the "Opinions" clearly state that information and communication infrastructure is the key support for the low altitude economy. By building a widely covered low altitude communication network, accurate navigation services, and intelligent perception system, the core problem of "stable flight" of aircraft has been solved. This not only ensures the safe and orderly integration of millions of unmanned aerial vehicles into low altitude airspace, but also effectively reduces operating costs, promotes typical application scenarios such as logistics distribution, urban governance, and cultural tourism from "pilot" to "normal", and accelerates the commercialization process and high-quality development of the entire industry. The outline of the 15th Five Year Plan proposes to promote the healthy and orderly development of the low altitude economy. Currently, various regions are intensifying the development of low altitude industries, and the low altitude economy is constantly moving from conceptual exploration to scenario verification. In Zhou Jing's view, in order to develop the low altitude economy well, it is necessary to adhere to systematic construction. We must adhere to the scenario as the driving force, always follow the demand, build around the scene, and make the digital road network spread across thousands of industries; Promote facility integration, break down barriers at the institutional level, and facilitate information flow; To have a forward-looking layout, we can moderately advance the construction and layout of 6G satellite ground integration. In addition, it is necessary to accelerate system testing and demonstration, adhere to standard first, cross domain connectivity, and enable low altitude economy to continuously move towards large-scale development. Zhang Linshan suggested that all regions should adhere to the combination of demand driven and tailored measures. On the one hand, it is necessary to closely connect with local low altitude flight areas with conditions and demands, fully utilize existing mature communication network facilities such as 5G, and promote low altitude network coverage as needed through beam optimization, base station construction, and other methods; On the other hand, it is necessary to establish a dynamic list of application scenarios, actively promote the implementation of "one machine, one code, one number", explore the formation of diversified detection and collaboration capabilities, and encourage enterprises to carry out technological innovation and equipment research and development such as sensory integration and computing power support, forming replicable and promotable practical experience, and providing solid support for the healthy and orderly development of the low altitude economy. To ensure the implementation of the Opinion, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will guide basic telecommunications enterprises to carry out information infrastructure construction, standard setting, information services and other work in an orderly manner in the next step; Comprehensively utilize various funding channels to promote key technology research and development, equipment development, and application development, and encourage localities to increase support; Based on the progress of experimental construction, research and establish an evaluation index system, summarize experience and practices, and strengthen communication and promotion. (New Society)

Edit:Momo Responsible editor:Chen zhaozhao

Source:Economic Daily

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