Abstract
Abstract In parallel to the on-going development of MASS in the maritime domain, mobile communication infrastructure is in the process of being extended with 5G, the first generation of mobile networks to specifically address applications and domains beyond the traditional voice and broadband for consumers and enterprises. 5G introduces new concepts such as enhanced QoS mechanisms, network slicing for application segregation and QoS management, as well as a new radio interface that enables both increased data rates and ultra-reliable low latency communication. As these new capabilities are being deployed in the public mobile infrastructure, they make 5G a promising technology for MASS vessel communication in coastal-near waters and inland waterways. However, even though 5G can deliver high-capacity networks capable of addressing a wide range of use cases across many verticals, our analyses indicate that public 5G networks lack the required uplink capacity necessary to fulfill the requirements of MASS remote control operations. Public 5G networks are by design, configuration, and specification, highly downlink-centric, and while the technology itself is fully capable of delivering high capacity, low latency communication, the current state of implementation in public network infrastructure is seemingly not adequate for applications demanding high uplink capacity when operating outside the traditional network coverage areas.