According to a release on March 18, the National Development and Reform Commission clearly stated in the Report on the Implementation of the 2025 National Economic and Social Development Plan and the Draft 2026 National Economic and Social Development Plan that in 2026, China will improve the low-altitude economy industrial and innovation ecosystem, with a focus on advancing the construction of safety infrastructure such as low-altitude intelligent networked systems. Government authorities are currently promoting the development of related infrastructure and the formulation of technical standards. It is believed that new infrastructure, high-end equipment manufacturing, operation services and other sectors in related industries will embrace broad development prospects.
Why Traditional Systems Fail to Support the Future Low-Altitude Economy
At present, the operation of drones familiar to most people relies on point-to-point radio remote control or Wi-Fi. This model will be inadequate when facing millions of various aircraft in the future, such as logistics drones and manned electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles. Traditional terrestrial mobile communication networks are mainly designed for ground users, having blind spots in aerial coverage and lacking the capability to accurately perceive aircraft.
The emergence of the low-altitude intelligent network is precisely to address this pain point. By integrating technologies including 5G-Advanced, Beidou Navigation, radar and artificial intelligence, it builds an intelligent digital network covering low-altitude airspace that integrates five dimensions: communication, perception, navigation, meteorology and computing power. Figuratively speaking, if the low-altitude economy is a grand stage play, the low-altitude intelligent network is the “main stage” and “backstage command system” supporting the performance. It not only provides stable communication links for aircraft at all times, but also accurately perceives the position and trajectory of aircraft like a “pair of clairvoyant eyes”, realizing the leap from “capable of flying” to “intelligent flying”.
The Indispensable Role of Low-Altitude Intelligent Networked Systems
From the perspective of industrial development, the low-altitude intelligent networked system is an “indispensable foundation” for the large-scale development of the low-altitude economy. It breaks down information silos in low-altitude operations across various fields and entities, realizes the dynamic optimal allocation of airspace resources, efficient approval and circulation of flight plans, and coordinated avoidance of multiple types of aircraft. It effectively improves airspace utilization efficiency, reduces enterprise operation costs, facilitates the rapid maturity of business formats such as logistics transportation, air travel and cultural tourism experiences, and promotes the formation of a low-altitude industrial ecosystem with coordinated upstream and downstream development and a fully connected industrial chain.
From the perspective of security support, the low-altitude intelligent networked system is the “core defense line” for safeguarding the bottom line of low-altitude operation safety. Through integrated functions of global perception, real-time monitoring, intelligent early warning and emergency response, it can accurately identify various risks such as illegal flights, route conflicts and equipment failures, shifting from passive response to active prevention and control. It effectively prevents threats posed by low-altitude flights to ground personnel, key infrastructure and aviation safety, building a solid barrier for security and stability in the low-altitude domain.
From the perspective of governance efficiency, the low-altitude intelligent networked system is an “important tool” for enhancing the modernization of urban and airspace governance. Relying on the system’s digital and intelligent capabilities, it realizes the full-process monitorability, traceability and controllability of low-altitude flights, supporting cross-departmental collaborative supervision by air traffic control, public security, emergency management, transportation and other authorities. It also empowers public service scenarios such as emergency rescue, police patrol and environmental monitoring, achieving an organic integration of efficient utilization of low-altitude resources and public interests.
From Policy to Practice, Low-Altitude Intelligence Takes Root
The value of technology is ultimately reflected in application. At present, application scenarios of low-altitude intelligent networks are accelerating to take shape.
In the field of urban governance, Changzhou, Jiangsu has launched a “one-drone multi-patrol government aerial inspection” model, which has significantly reduced social governance costs through a set of low-altitude equipment plus a government inspection platform. In logistics transportation, regular operations of cross-sea trunk transportation and urban last-mile delivery have been realized in Shanghai, Shenzhen and other places. In emergency rescue, China Unicom, together with the Shanghai Public Security Bureau, has developed a low-altitude airborne base station system that can quickly restore communications in emergencies. In civil aviation security, Baoshan Airport in Yunnan has taken the lead in applying 5G-A technology, realizing 24/7 real-time perception of intrusive targets around the airport and keeping manned aircraft away from disturbances by drones.
Looking ahead, with the continuous improvement of the low-altitude intelligent network, the scene of flying taxis shuttling back and forth as seen in science fiction movies will no longer be distant. With the continuous release of policy dividends and the increasing maturity of technology in 2026, we have every reason to believe that a safe, efficient and intelligent low-altitude intelligent network will take shape at an accelerated pace, empowering the high-quality development and rapid growth of China’s low-altitude economy.
