Hong Kong mobile technology company UCloudlink is working with logistics firm China Vehicle Interconnected Transport Capacity Technology (CVITC) to develop smart containers.

For domestic and international freight markets, the containers will be powered by UCloudlink’s core patented cloud SIM technology.

The advent of container shipping has improved cargo transportation efficiency around the world. Despite this, this shipping method is often hazardous, and there is a pressing need for an intelligent system that tracks and monitors cargo, containers and transportation status in real time. Such a system would improve transparency, safety, service levels and efficiency at a company and an industry scale.

However, its realisation depends on access to stable mobile network connections with wide coverage, high speeds and low latency, particularly when containers are in the transportation process.

The partnership between UCloudlink and CVITC leverages both companies’ strengths to address these challenges and build an operation model for the global multi-modal transport capacity of containers. Under the agreement, UCloudlink will provide CVITC customers with technological platforms such as container sharing operation, transport capacity ecommerce, and truck drop and haul e-operation platforms for domestic and cross-border transportation.

As a domestic container transportation and logistics company, CVITC harnesses technology to link various modes of transportation and build a centralised and unified interconnected transport capacity service. UCloudlink’s cloud SIM technology lets container logistics companies use mobile data services freely and flexibly to obtain real-time feedback on use status, regardless of location, operation or restrictions of network service providers.

Its instant switching network technology also reduces cross-mobile network switching time to milliseconds, allowing connection quality to be always stable. It is compatible with IoT applications.

Smart containers are just one application where cloud SIM technology can be applied to the IoT. UCloudlink’s instant switching network technology is also compatible with other IoT applications, such as internet of vehicles, autopilot, cargo, railway transportation, logistics and other car equipment. Anticipating the launch of global 5G mobile communication networks, the company has prepared its mobile data services to accelerate the arrival of the 5G cloud era.

The agreement with CVITC marks a milestone for UCloudlink as it seeks to broaden its business boundaries to more industries and apply cloud SIM technology to IoT applications, such as autopilot, AR, VR and cloud computing. In establishing its global PaaS and SaaS ecosystem, UCloudlink plans to empower more businesses to capitalise on the opportunities presented by 5G cloud technologies with high network speeds, low latency and rising demand for better connection services.

UCloudlink is a mobile data traffic sharing marketplace, pioneering the sharing economy business model for the telecommunications industry. The company’s products and services deliver value propositions to mobile data users, handset and smart-hardware companies, mobile virtual network operators, and mobile network operators.