Low-cost ‘paper antenna’ paves way for large-scale 5G upgrade on Chinese warships: study

AdvertisementScienceChinaScienceLow-cost ‘paper antenna’ paves way for large-scale 5G upgrade on Chinese warships: studyPaper-based antenna devised by Chinese team is positioned as a low-cost, scalable ‘last-mile’ communication solution 2-MIN READ2-MIN ListenChao Kongin BeijingPublished: 12:00pm, 20 Apr 2026Chinese researchers have developed a flexible 5G millimetre-wave antenna made from photo paper which they say slashes material costs by more than 95 per cent, potentially removing a key barrier to large-scale naval 5G adoption.They described a paper-based flexible multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antenna engineered specifically for shipborne 5G communications in a study published in the peer-reviewed Chinese Journal of Ship Research and led by Yang Wendong of Liaoning Technical University. The team said the innovation could “realise millimetre-wave communication antennas suitable for the complex environment of ships”. 01:22 Oil tankers set ablaze by Iranian drones as shipping vessels targeted in Middle East war Oil tankers set ablaze by Iranian drones as shipping vessels targeted in Middle East warThe design replaced the expensive and rigid conventional foundation boards, or substrates, used in high-end electronics with commercially available glossy photo paper less than 0.3mm thick, combined with screen-printed conductive copper paste. AdvertisementIn their paper, the authors said the design cut material costs by more than 95 per cent compared to traditional microwave substrates, while also offering a product that was biodegradable and suitable for large-scale deployment. The paper-based antenna is positioned as a low-cost, scalable “last-mile” communication solution. The development comes as navies worldwide explore ways to integrate 5G into maritime operations. The US Navy has focused on high-end solutions centred on low Earth orbit satellite connectivity under programmes such as SEA2 (Sailor Edge Afloat and Ashore), with contracts reaching tens of millions of dollars per deployment. AdvertisementFor example, the US Navy has awarded Booz Allen a US$99 million contract to deploy wireless networks for around 140 ships in its Military Sealift Command, while the research and development contract for a single terminal stands at US$6.29 million. By contrast, a 2023 domestic project undertaken by China Unicom for a military unit achieved 5G indoor coverage for three vessels for 57,000 yuan (US$8,360), excluding tax, or about 19,000 yuan per ship, although the two projects differ significantly in technical scope and infrastructure requirements.AdvertisementSelect VoiceSelect Speed0.8x0.9x1.0x1.1x1.2x1.5x1.75x00:0000:001.00x