ETRI Maritime IoT Network Breakthrough: First Real-World Verification Achieved
ETRI Maritime IoT Network Breakthrough: First Real-World Verification Achieved
Synopsis
• Korea’s ETRI completes the first real-world validation of a maritime IoT network spanning up to 35km.
• System links 30 devices simultaneously for marine safety, environmental monitoring, and navigation.
• Technology uses a dedicated 450MHz band and meets 3GPP maritime IoT specifications.
• Pilot networks will roll out across the East, West, and South Seas before full nationwide expansion.
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Korean researchers have completed what Newswise, citing the National Research Council of Science and Technology, describes as the world’s first real-world verification of a maritime Internet of Things (MIoT) communications network—an effort led by the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI). The system gathers data through sensors mounted on ships, ports, and maritime facilities, supporting wide-area safety operations and environmental oversight.
According to the report, ETRI confirmed that its newly built MIoT network achieved communication distances of up to 35km while connecting 30 devices simultaneously in the waters across Korea’s West and South Seas. This marks the first instance in which IoT technology aligned with international standards from the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has been successfully tested in a real ocean environment rather than a simulated one.
ETRI notes that the network can underpin a large-scale big-data ecosystem designed to capture and share maritime weather, ecological conditions, and environmental information with public agencies. The infrastructure is positioned to improve the operation of navigation aids (AtoN), fishing gear, aquaculture sites, and the management of remote islands. It also enhances maritime safety by enabling the tracking of small vessels, life jackets, and floating objects, expanding its use cases even further.
The research team built an independent communications network integrating base stations, terminals, core networks, and application services using the 450MHz public dedicated frequency allocated by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries in 2023. In June, ETRI installed a base station at Odongdo Lighthouse in Yeosu and placed 30 terminals across six sites, including test light buoys, achieving stable data transmission. The demonstrations continued in August with a second base station at Maldo Lighthouse in Gunsan, linking terminals across Gunsan Port, Bieung Port, Janghang Port, and Gyeokpo Port.
As confirmed in the Newswise report, the Odongdo base station maintained stable communication over 27km to the Nangdo Port terminal, while the Maldo base station achieved a 35km link to Janghang Port. Once connected, each device transmitted GPS location, light status, shock detection, and battery level updates every three minutes. All 30 AtoN-mounted devices in Yeosu and Gunsan connected simultaneously, and commercial test equipment verified capacity for up to 1,000 concurrent connections.
Building on these results, ETRI plans to deploy pilot MIoT networks across the East, West, and South Seas beginning in 2026, expanding nationwide after 2030. Unlike land-based NB-IoT infrastructure, the MIoT system operates independently, using low-power transmission tailored to the maritime environment and message-priority protocols for safety services. Unlike LTE-M systems optimized for high-volume data transfer, the MIoT platform is engineered for low-power, low-cost devices—and can complement existing maritime networks to create a denser ocean-wide communications layer comparable to terrestrial coverage.
International standardization efforts are already underway through the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation (IALA). Korea’s government has outlined its commitment to maritime IoT development through initiatives such as the “3rd Basic Plan for Navigational Aids to Navigation (2025–2029)” and the “Marine Navigation Information System Innovation Strategy,” which aim to establish a unified nationwide maritime IoT network.
The report quotes project leader Dr. Cho Seong Chul, who emphasized that the world’s first verified ocean-based MIoT system represents more than a technical milestone, forming the groundwork for maritime big-data industries and strengthened national safety infrastructure. He highlighted ETRI’s goal of supporting Korea’s global leadership in maritime digital transformation by continuing deployments across all major sea regions.
Lee Moon Sik, Assistant Vice President of the Satellite Communication Research Division, noted that securing a public frequency and implementing a standalone maritime IoT network at sea is unprecedented globally. He added that the technology is expected to reinforce Korea’s maritime safety and its national strategy for climate-crisis response.
ETRI will continue advancing the system and conducting commercialization tests. As outlined by Newswise, this breakthrough could help position Korea as a leader in the global maritime IoT market, supporting both technological exports and the build-up of comprehensive maritime data infrastructure.
This research forms part of “The Advancement of Smart Aids to Navigation Facilities (’21–’25)” project, a collaboration funded by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Korea Institute of Marine Science & Technology Promotion. Multiple organizations—including the National Maritime PNT Office, the Korea Institute of Aids to Navigation, domestic telecommunications companies, and research institutes—contributed to validating the functionality of the Rel.16 NB-IoT system in real sea conditions.
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About The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI)
The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) is South Korea’s leading government-funded research organization specializing in advanced communications, information technologies, and emerging digital infrastructure. Established to accelerate national innovation, ETRI has produced many of the country’s most significant breakthroughs in telecommunications, including foundational work in mobile networks, digital broadcasting, satellite communications, and next-generation connectivity systems. The institute focuses heavily on real-world deployment, working closely with government ministries, industry partners, and international standardization bodies to translate research into commercially viable technologies.
ETRI is widely recognized for its contributions to global ICT standards through organizations such as 3GPP and ITU, helping position Korea as a leader in network engineering and digital transformation. Its recent verification of the world’s first real-world maritime IoT communication network reinforces ETRI’s role at the forefront of resilient, nationwide digital infrastructure and data-driven innovation across land, sea, and space.
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