5G-A and AI Power Immersive Experience at 2025 Beijing Marathon
A high-uplink, AI-powered 5G-A network deployed by China Unicom Beijing and Huawei transformed the 2025 Beijing Marathon into a showcase for next-generation connectivity, providing seamless experiences for 32,000 runners and spectators alike. The network delivered unprecedented speed and reliability across the 42.195 km race route, setting a new benchmark for intelligent event support.
Uninterrupted Connectivity for a Global Event
The newly deployed 5G-A network provided mobile coverage for over 90% of the marathon route, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity, zero lag, and crystal-clear quality for livestreaming, media uploads, and real-time sharing. This enhanced performance was achieved through a coordinated application of 5G-A and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.
High-Speed Uplink: A Game Changer for Content Creation
A key feature of the network was its focus on high-uplink speeds, addressing the significant demands of the event. According to a network optimization expert at China Unicom Beijing, “Uploading has ceased to be a constraint for these events with high user density.” The network maintained an average uplink speed of 20 Mbps along the entire route for over 95% of the event duration. Utilizing a combination of high-, mid-, and low-band coordination technology, peak uplink speeds reached an impressive 4 Gbps. Dedicated uplink slices, deployed at eight key sections of the course, enabled 4K media uploading in seconds.
China Unicom Beijing and Huawei jointly provided a 5G-A intelligent elastic network channel, offering premium services to subscribers with region-specific packages. These users were identified by a China Unicom VIP icon on their phones, granting them access to peak downlink speeds of 3 Gbps and peak uplink speeds of 300 Mbps. This capability facilitated instant uploads to social media platforms, enhancing the overall user experience.
AI-Powered Support for Runners and Spectators
Beyond connectivity, the integration of AI delivered exclusive services to marathon participants. China Unicom, as the event sponsor, provided runner support services throughout the race, leveraging the high-uplink 5G-A network to offer HD photos, vlogs, cloud storage, and intelligent classification of content.
Immersive Experiences Resonate with Event Viewers
The high-uplink 5G-A network garnered praise from spectators, who experienced a new level of immersion. “This experience was like nothing before. I could record videos and livestream at the same time, and the videos were crystal clear too. I could post to social media almost instantly,” one spectator shared. Photographers also lauded the fast upload speeds, noting, “There’s almost no waiting to share this experience.”
Looking Ahead: Expanding 5G-A and AI Applications
Qin Yang, Deputy General Manager of China Unicom Beijing, emphasized the significance of the event, stating, “The 2025 Beijing Marathon was an excellent opportunity to champion our core brand values of innovation, security, and trustworthiness with the power of digital technologies.” He added that China Unicom will continue to collaborate with partners like Huawei to explore the potential of 5G-A and AI in diverse scenarios, ultimately contributing to the creation of an intelligent future.
