Evaluating 5G-Based Communication Protocols for Reliable Data Transmission in Offshore Platforms
Energy production and marine research rely heavily on the use of offshore platforms which require robust and unreliable communication systems for real-time monitoring, remote control, and data transmission. Communication systems such as 4G/LTE and satellite links experience latency issues and bandwidth restrictions further exacerbated by environmental factors. This study analyzes offshore platforms' applicability as 5G-based communications protocols are evaluated, including 5G NR, edge 5G, WiFi 6, and mesh networks. The evaluation utilizes latency, throughput, packet loss, energy consumption, reliability, jitter, and loss as comparison standards. The results show that models incorporating edge computing with 5G outperformed others due to their ultra-low latency, advanced reliability, and high throughput—parameters critical to supporting industrial IoT and real-time analytics. Furthermore, the study states 5G-based protocol augmentations could enhance offshore communications and operational efficiency.