The 2nd World Humanoid Robot Games, which opened August 24 at Beijing's National Speed Skating Oval, are showcasing more than just robotic prowess. Behind the scenes, a 5G-A GigaUplink network, jointly deployed by China Unicom Beijing and Huawei, is providing the high-capacity, low-latency connectivity essential for the event's 2,056 humanoid robots competing in 1,301 competitions across 51 events. This deployment is not merely a technical showcase; it represents a significant step toward integrating humanoid robots into everyday life, as the network infrastructure extends beyond the arena to support a growing range of cultural tourism, embodied AI, and Mobile AI applications across Beijing.
The Games have expanded dramatically since their inaugural edition, with the number of events nearly doubling from 26 to 51. New high-intensity head-to-head competitions such as table tennis and kickboxing, along with scenario-based tasks in industrial production, hotels, homes, and logistics, demand networks capable of high-capacity uplink, millisecond-level responsiveness, and high reliability. Autonomous formats and increased task complexity require real-time robot telemetry, precise control signaling, and multi-robot coordination. To meet these stringent demands, China Unicom Beijing and Huawei deployed a dedicated 100 MHz network, complemented by a 300 MHz LampSite ultra-wideband indoor system. This setup supports real-time robot telemetry and precise signaling exchange, with a dedicated 5QI 7 slice and carrier isolation ensuring end-to-end latency remains within 30 milliseconds—a critical factor for millisecond-level decision-making and response in multi-robot coordination, obstacle avoidance, and fine-motion control.
By integrating the dedicated network with BeiDou RTK positioning, the solution achieves decimeter- to sub-decimeter-level accuracy, enabling autonomous navigation and precision racing in complex environments. On-site tests recorded a peak uplink speed of 1 Gbps and average latency below 30 milliseconds, numbers that underscore the network's capability to handle the most demanding applications. "This network deployment is not only a real-world test of China Unicom's network capabilities; it will also help us accumulate valuable network assurance experience for the large-scale deployment of embodied AI," said Yang Lifan, Deputy General Manager of China Unicom Beijing. "We aim to support industrial innovation and help bring Chinese solutions to the world."
While ensuring reliable connectivity for the robots, China Unicom has also prioritized spectator experience. The network dynamically adjusts resources and service assurance policies based on event phases—admission, waiting, competition, and departure—prioritizing core services like instant messaging, ticket inquiries, and mobile payments, while also accommodating data-intensive activities such as photo uploads and live streaming. This approach ensures seamless connectivity even during peak traffic. Additionally, China Unicom developed China's first embodied AI robot management platform designed for event scenarios, which assigns each robot a unique network ID for real-time monitoring of location, competition status, and operational metrics, creating a closed-loop management system.
David Li, President of Huawei's Wireless TDD Product Line, highlighted the significance of the deployment: "The 2nd World Humanoid Robot Games have provided a compelling real-world validation of the 5G-A 100 MHz GigaUplink network based on 3.5 GHz 2CC + 2.1 GHz SUL for embodied AI scenarios. Looking ahead, we will continue to work with China Unicom Beijing to strengthen uplink capabilities and advance spectrum coordination, building multidimensional network capabilities with tiered and differentiated service assurance for multimodal device-to-cloud transmission." He added, "Networks are about more than speed. Low latency, high reliability, and ubiquitous coverage are equally important. We will further advance the 5G Capital initiative, continue to expand the boundaries of network performance, and lay a solid foundation for the Mobile AI era."
The 5G Capital initiative, a collaboration between China Unicom Beijing and Huawei, has been instrumental in driving network innovation in Beijing. This deployment at the Humanoid Robot Games serves as a real-world validation of the technology, demonstrating its potential to support not only robotic competitions but also the broader integration of embodied AI into society. As the Games continue, the network will be put to the test, offering valuable insights into the requirements for future large-scale AI applications.
