수중 음향 통신 시장은 해양데이터 수요 증가, 해양석유 및 가스탐사에 대한 투자 확대, 자율형 수중항행체(AUV)와 수중센서 네트워크 등 새로운 수중 용도 개발 등 몇 가지 요인에 따라 앞으로 수년간 크게 성장할 전망입니다. Verified Market Research의 분석가에 따르면, 수중 음향 통신 시장은 2023년 약 32억 달러 미만으로 예측되고 2031년에는 85억 2,000만 달러의 평가 금액에 도달할 것으로 예상됩니다. 또한 2024년부터 2031년까지의 CAGR은 12.82%로 성장할 것으로 추정됩니다.
수중 음향 통신 시장 정의/개요
수중에서는 전파가 유효하지 않기 때문에 수중 음향 통신은 수중에서 데이터를 전송하는 주요 방법입니다. 한편, 음파는 수중을 잘 전달하므로 장거리 데이터 전송에 이용할 수 있습니다.
기후 변화와 같은 복잡한 문제를 이해하고, 해양 생물의 개체수의 건강을 모니터링하고, 어업을 효과적으로 관리하며, 기상 패턴을 예측하기 위해 종합적인 해양 데이터의 필요성이 증가하고 있습니다. 이를 위해서는 광역에 퍼지는 수중 관측 장비의 광대한 네트워크와 실시간으로 통신해야 합니다. 수중 음향 통신은 이러한 장비에서 데이터센터로 중요한 데이터를 전송하고 분석할 수 있게 해주며, 과학자와 연구자들이 수중 환경을 더 깊이 이해할 수 있도록 도와줍니다.
또한, 석유 및 가스 매장을 위한 해양 탐사의 확대에 의해 수중 기기로부터의 제어나 데이터 전송을 위한 신뢰성이 높은 통신이 요구되고 있습니다. 여기에는 해저에서의 탐사, 설치 및 해저 장비의 유지보수에 사용되는 원격조사선(ROV) 통신도 포함됩니다. 신뢰할 수 있는 수중 음향 통신은 효율적인 작동 제어와 실시간 데이터 전송을 보장하며 탐사와 자원 추출의 성공에 필수적입니다.
수중 환경은 지상 통신에 사용되는 전파의 세계와는 엄격한 대조를 보입니다. 음파는 수중에서는 전파의 광속에 비해 훨씬 느린 속도, 약 초당 1,500 미터로 전해집니다. 따라서 육상 Wi-Fi 및 휴대폰 데이터 통신과 비교할 때 데이터 전송 속도와 대역폭이 크게 제한됩니다. 이 제한된 대역폭으로 인해 현재의 수중 음향 기술은 대용량 데이터 파일, 고해상도 비디오 및 실시간 스트리밍 전송이 현실적이지 않습니다. 대량의 데이터를 생성하는 자율형 수중항행체(AUV)의 실시간 제어나 고해상도 데이터가 필요한 해양석유 및 가스 탐사를 지원하는 통신시스템 등의 용도에서는 병목 현상이 될 수 있습니다.
또한 수중 환경은 음향 신호에 큰 영향을 미칩니다. 염분 농도, 온도 변화, 해양 생물, 배경 노이즈 등의 요인은 신호의 왜곡, 흡수, 다중경로 전파(신호가 다른 표면에서 튀어나온다)를 유발할 수 있습니다. 이로 인해 데이터 유출, 지연 및 전송 오류가 발생하여 통신 신뢰성에 영향을 미칩니다.
The Underwater Acoustic Communication Market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, driven by several factors including increasing demand for oceanographic data, growing investment in offshore oil and gas exploration, and the development of new underwater applications such as autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and underwater sensor networks. According to the analyst from Verified Market Research, the Underwater Acoustic Communication Market is estimated to reach a valuation of USD 8.52 Billion over the forecast 2031, subjugating around USD 3.2 Billion in 2023. Also, the market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 12.82% from 2024 to 2031.
Underwater Acoustic Communication Market: Definition/ Overview
Acoustic communication is the primary method of transmitting data underwater because radio waves are not effective underwater. Sound waves, on the other hand, travel well underwater and can be used to transmit data over long distances.
There's a rising need for comprehensive oceanographic data to understand complex issues like climate change, monitor the health of marine life populations, manage fisheries effectively, and predict weather patterns. This necessitates real-time communication with a vast network of underwater instruments spread across large areas. Underwater acoustic communication enables the transmission of critical data from these instruments to data centers for analysis, helping scientists and researchers gain a deeper understanding of the underwater environment.
Furthermore, the expansion of offshore exploration for oil and gas reserves demands reliable communication for control and data transfer from underwater equipment. This includes communication for remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) used for exploration, installation, and maintenance of subsea equipment on the seabed. Reliable underwater acoustic communication ensures efficient operation control and real-time data transmission, critical for successful exploration and resource extraction.
The underwater environment presents a harsh contrast to the world of radio waves used for terrestrial communication. Sound waves travel at a much slower speed in water, roughly 1,500 meters per second compared to the speed of light for radio waves. This translates to significantly limited data transfer rates and bandwidth compared to what we experience with Wi-Fi or cellular data on land. This restricted bandwidth makes real-time transmission of large data files, high-definition video, or live streaming impractical with current underwater acoustic technology. It can be a bottleneck for applications like real-time control of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) that generate a lot of data, or for communication systems supporting offshore oil and gas exploration where high-resolution data may be required.
Furthermore, the underwater environment can significantly affect acoustic signals. Factors like salinity, temperature variations, marine life, and background noise can cause signal distortion, absorption, and multipath propagation (signal bouncing off different surfaces). This leads to data loss, delays, and transmission errors, impacting communication reliability.
According to VMR analysis, the scientific research and development segment is estimated to hold the largest market share during the forecast period. Scientific research and development is the driving force behind advancements in underwater acoustic communication technology. This segment actively explores new applications, pushes the boundaries of data rates and range, and investigates solutions to overcome environmental challenges.
R&D encompasses a wide range of underwater activities that rely on communication. This includes oceanographic data collection for climate change research, underwater vehicle communication for exploration and resource mapping, and the development of underwater sensor networks for environmental monitoring. The sheer diversity of applications in R&D fuels the demand for robust and adaptable underwater communication solutions.
The Hydrography and oceanography segment is estimated to dominate the Underwater Acoustic Communication Market during the forecast period. Hydrography and oceanography rely heavily on deploying vast networks of underwater sensors to collect data on various parameters like water salinity, temperature, currents, ocean floor topography, and marine life activity. These sensors require reliable communication for transmitting the collected data to data centers or research vessels for analysis. Underwater acoustic communication provides a robust solution for real-time data transmission across large distances in the ocean environment, where radio waves are ineffective.
Furthermore, Underwater acoustic communication is instrumental in hydrographic surveys that map the ocean floor. Sophisticated sonar systems used in these surveys rely on acoustic communication to transmit and receive data for generating bathymetric maps (maps of underwater features) and charting navigational hazards. Efficient communication ensures accurate data collection and the creation of detailed underwater maps, critical for safe navigation and resource exploration.
According to VMR analyst, the Asia Pacific region is expected to be the fastest-growing market for underwater acoustic communication, due to the increasing investment in offshore oil and gas exploration in the region. The Asia Pacific region is a hub for offshore oil and gas exploration activities. Countries like China, India, and Vietnam are actively investing in exploration and resource extraction in the South China Sea, East China Sea, and Indian Ocean. Reliable underwater communication is crucial for these activities, ensuring efficient control of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and real-time data transmission from subsea equipment. This fuels the demand for advanced underwater acoustic communication technologies.
Several Asia Pacific countries, particularly China and India, are significantly increasing their defense budgets. This translates to investments in modernizing naval fleets, including submarines and underwater surveillance systems. Advanced underwater acoustic communication is a critical component for these military applications, enabling secure communication, submarine navigation, and underwater warfare strategies.
North America is expected to see significant growth in the underwater acoustic communication market. The United States Navy maintains a large fleet of submarines, making it a leading force in underwater warfare. This necessitates the continuous development and deployment of advanced underwater acoustic communication technologies for secure communication, navigation, and tactical operations. North American companies are well-positioned to capitalize on this demand by providing cutting-edge solutions.
North America houses leading oceanographic research institutions that actively explore the oceans. These institutions require robust communication solutions for data collection from underwater sensor networks, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), and research vessels. This demand presents opportunities for companies specializing in underwater acoustic modems and communication protocols optimized for scientific applications.
The underwater acoustic communication market is comprised of a mix of established players and emerging companies.
Some of the prominent players operating in the Underwater Acoustic Communication Market include:
Lockheed Martin Corporation, Wilcoxon, Teledyne Marine, Thales Group, Ultra Electronics, Sonardyne, Mistral
In 2024, BlueScan(R) Advancement has been refining its BlueScan(R) system, an integrated acoustic system for real-time data fusion and analysis from various underwater sensors. This enhances situational awareness for naval operations.
In 2024, Teledyne introduced new underwater acoustic modem variants catering to specific applications. These modems offer improved range, bandwidth, and error correction capabilities.