Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link optimizes travel experience with 5G coverage

The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, a mega cross-sea passage in southern China that features two bridges, two artificial islands, and an underwater tunnel, offers a groundbreaking travel experience with its comprehensive 5G coverage and advanced navigation systems.

The link, a major transportation project in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, opened to traffic at 15:00 on Sunday.

Spanning 24 km, the link drastically reduces travel time between the city of Zhongshan and the technology hub of Shenzhen, situated on the opposite sides of the Pearl River Estuary in Guangdong Province, from two hours to around 30 minutes.

With a meticulous approach, the constructor has strategically placed a total of 73 5G base stations along the entire bridge section, ensuring consistent coverage with an average distance of less than 300 meters between stations. The network allows drivers and passengers to enjoy uninterrupted 5G connectivity and utilize real-time navigation services throughout their journey.

"We made plans and designs in advance to address the technical issues including bridge use and island use. We synchronized the planning and design of public network signal coverage for the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link as early as 2019. Drivers and passengers can now enjoy precise positioning and satellite navigation services similar to those on the ground through mobile and in-car systems," said Li Weicong, head of the traffic engineering department of the project.

Before the opening of the link, Amap, a leading Chinese mapping service provider, completed information collection and data updates in the link, ensuring that navigation planning data remained consistent with the link's opening time. Based on the updated road data, users can instantly access information about the link on the app and plan their travel routes accordingly.

The underwater tunnel of the link is 6.8 kilometers long. Considering factors including tunnel depth and the thickness of steel walls affecting signal stability, communications equipment connections and cable slots were pre-installed in the tunnel galleries. Approximately 60,000 meters of leaky cables supporting the 5G frequency band were also laid in the tunnel, achieving seamless signal coverage.

"We have installed 365 sets of simulated satellite navigation equipment mainly within the tunnel, which receive signals from orbiting satellites and emit a navigation system similar to the BeiDou satellite system throughout the entire tunnel without blind spots," said Li.

Li said that distributed communication signal coverage systems are also installed in the main building interiors of the artificial islands on both ends, forming a three-dimensional network through technological means.

Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link optimizes travel experience with 5G coverage

Japan has introduced a new program for foreign employers to replace the Technical Intern Training Program, which was implemented over the last three decades, with a new training and employment system expected to be fully implemented within three years to tackle the labor shortage.

Overall, the new training and employment system is more flexible than the previous Technical Intern Training Program. It relaxes restrictions on foreign employees changing companies and eliminates the compulsory requirement for them to return to their home countries after three years.

Instead, it allows foreign workers who meet certain Japanese language and technical proficiency criteria to switch employers, and those with adequate technical abilities and meeting specific requirements can even apply to obtain permanent residency.

This initiative aims to address a labor shortage exacerbated by a 13-year consecutive decline in the Japanese population, with 16.1 percent of people aged over 75. This demographic trend has left around 70 percent of medium- and small-sized enterprises facing labor shortages.

"Women who previously had no jobs are now employed, and elderly workers continue to work, which helps to fill gaps in the labor market. However, sectors such as civil construction still face severe labor shortages," said Masaaki Shigehara, member of a council at General Affairs Department of Dai-ichi Life Group.

Experts believe the new system will enable foreign labor to more easily access industries experiencing critical labor shortages, including construction, nursing, agriculture, and car maintenance.

"In the car maintenance industry, the talent shortage issue could be alleviated if the new training and employment system develops as expected. This could significantly reduce the survival risks faced by enterprises. We hope this new system will be implemented successfully," said Ichi Yoshino, chairman of Japan Autobody Repair Work Association.

Japan introduces new employment system for foreigners to tackle severe labor shortages