Chicago, Dec. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global underwater wireless communication market is projected to surpass market size of US$ 25.29 billion by 2035 from US$ 7.36 billion in 2025 at a CAGR of 14.7% during the forecast period 2026–2034.
Global defense initiatives in 2025 are increasingly prioritizing subsea interoperability, emerging as a key catalyst for the underwater wireless communication market. The large-scale REPMUS 2025 exercise, held from September 8 to 25, drew more than 2,000 participants from 22 nations, signaling the massive scale of naval investment worldwide. Nearly 260 unmanned systems were deployed during the event, creating a live testbed for next-generation connectivity technologies.
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Teledyne Marine seized the moment by securing a crucial three-year support contract (2025–2028) with the UK Ministry of Defence—a deal that reinforces long-term confidence in this sector’s growth potential. Building on this, Teledyne RESON spearheaded the “U-SHIELD” project in August 2025 to address undersea threats, confirming how security applications are maturing alongside communication capabilities.
Standardization continues to underpin coalition operations within the underwater wireless communication market. NATO forces have already embraced JANUS (STANAG 4748) as the only open digital underwater standard, and adoption has surged dramatically. By 2024, JANUS had been integrated into every new NATO submarine rescue system trial. Commanders now require seamless data exchange in complex maritime environments, and technologies enabling such interoperability are gaining immediate traction in procurement pipelines. The market is clearly transitioning from experimental programs to mission-critical operational deployments, marking a new era of unified, cross-border subsea communication networks.
Key Findings in Underwater Wireless Communication Market
| Market Forecast (2035) | US$ 25.29 billion |
| CAGR | 14.7% |
| Largest Region (2025) | North America (35.50%) |
| By Type | Acoustic Communication (46.30%) |
| By Technology | Vehicular Technology (50.50%) |
| By Application | Environmental Monitoring (25.90%) |
| By Industry | Scientific Research and Development (37.20%) |
| Top Drivers |
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| Top Trends |
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| Top Challenges |
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Acoustic Technologies Set Performance Benchmarks and Redefine Data Transmission in the Market
Acoustic innovation is driving a wave of technological breakthroughs across the underwater wireless communication market, dramatically expanding range and data capacity. In August 2024, Chinese researchers achieved a milestone 30-kilometer transmission range while maintaining a data rate of 4,000 bps. Leveraging Huawei’s polar codes, the team surpassed NATO’s previous JANUS reference of 28 km, extending the limits of deep-sea monitoring.
Simultaneously, EvoLogics introduced the S2CM-HS mini-modem, reaching an impressive speed of 62.5 kbps. Although its range is limited to 300 meters, it effectively addresses the need for rapid data offloading. In October 2024, Subnero further strengthened market capabilities with its L12L series modem, enabling communication over distances exceeding 10 km.
Deep-water applications continue to shape hardware evolution. EvoLogics’ S2CR 12/24 modem—rated for 6,000 meters—balances throughput and distance with 9.2 kbps at maximum range. These advancements are transforming remote operations, ensuring dependable telemetry for deep-sea missions. High-frequency models like the S2CM HS operating at 120–200 kHz target short-range, high-speed needs, while low-frequency counterparts offer long-range solutions. This diverse acoustic portfolio allows buyers to tailor configurations for specific operational demands, reinforcing the market’s adaptive strength.
Optical Innovations Deliver Ultra-Fast Subsea Connectivity and Transform Data Exchange Capabilities
Optical systems are redefining the potential of the underwater wireless communication market, enabling ultra-high bandwidth for near-instantaneous data transfer. In November 2025, Kyocera demonstrated a stunning 5.2 Gbps link speed—about 2.5 times faster than traditional underwater optical systems—signifying a major leap in performance. Data that once took hours to transfer can now be exchanged within seconds.
A 2024 deep-sea study also achieved a stable 125 Mbps green light link at depths of 1,650 meters over a 30-meter distance, confirming optical tech’s resilience under high pressure. Theoretical modeling from this research indicated a potential maximum of 117.7 meters for green light systems, while blue light non-line-of-sight (NLOS) links achieved 6.25 Mbps. Although attenuation remains challenging at 0.289 dB/m, these innovations enable rapid “drive-by” data transfers crucial for AUV docking and data retrieval.
Industry participants view optical wireless technology as the obvious choice for video transmission and quick data offload tasks. With 2025’s record speeds and improved reliability, optical communication now complements acoustic networks, setting the stage for a multi-modal future in subsea communication.
Miniaturized Hardware Spurs Autonomous Platform Expansion Across Marine Operations
The race toward smaller, smarter systems is accelerating within the underwater wireless communication market, enabling broader adoption of micro-autonomous platforms. Teledyne’s Ultra Compact Modem OEM, weighing only 55 grams and measuring 60 x 50 mm, can be easily integrated into even the smallest Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs). Despite its compact form, it retains a depth rating of 6,000 meters—proof that miniaturization no longer means compromise.
This trend was front and center at Ocean Business 2025, which gathered over 350 marine technology companies showcasing advancements in robotics. L3Harris also unveiled torpedo-class systems with 10 km acoustic range capabilities, highlighting that reduced size does not come at the expense of endurance.
Performance density continues to climb with innovations like the BlueStreamX2 update, which introduced a 10 kHz Band C bandwidth in April 2025, doubling its predecessor’s bit rate to 4,800 bps. Smaller yet more capable modems are now enabling coordinated micro-AUV fleets, capable of swarm operations and high-resolution oceanographic data collection—a development reshaping operational efficiency and environmental monitoring.
Offshore Energy Infrastructure Strengthens Market Demand for Long-Term Monitoring Systems
The offshore energy sector’s growing need for advanced telemetry systems is propelling demand in the underwater wireless communication market. Sonardyne’s “Origin 65” ADCP, launched in 2025, epitomizes this trend with its 4,100-meter depth rating and profiling capabilities extending 800 meters from the unit. Its high precision and 120 mm measurement cell support crucial offshore projects, from subsea pipelines to renewable energy installations.
The Origin 65’s built-in LMF modem (14–19 kHz) provides reliable uplink communication, while its 504 Ah dual battery enables long-duration deployments. With a 1 TB onboard data storage capacity and an operating frequency of 62.5 kHz, it is optimized for medium-range data recovery and minimal vessel intervention. These “deploy-and-forget” technologies are redefining subsea monitoring, minimizing human involvement while delivering real-time insight into billion-dollar offshore assets.
By cutting cable dependency, energy operators are not only reducing operational costs but also supporting sustainability initiatives—making these wireless solutions both economically and environmentally strategic.
Electromagnetic Systems Expand Market Reach Across Surface and Subsurface Environments
Bridging the water-air interface represents a high-value opportunity within the underwater wireless communication market. CSignum’s EM-2 system, unveiled in May 2024, demonstrated seamless bi-directional data transmission over 200 meters through multiple media, including water, ice, and rock. This ability to penetrate various materials gives it a unique edge where traditional acoustics struggle, particularly in coastal and polar applications.
Investors took note—CSignum secured GBP 6 million (USD 7.6 million) in Series A funding to scale production. The underlying physics reinforce why this approach matters: high-frequency RF, such as 2.4 GHz, experiences severe attenuation underwater (over 180 dB/m), while magnetic induction in the 2–25 kHz range remains practical. Emerging studies also point toward 0.5 THz as the optimal frequency range for the next generation of high-speed EM communications. For now, low-frequency EM remains the reliable bridge linking subsea sensors to surface systems—particularly valuable in noisy or obstructed environments where acoustics fail.
Internet of Underwater Things (IoUT) Accelerates Market Integration Through Smart Networked Nodes
The rapid expansion of the Internet of Underwater Things (IoUT) marks a defining chapter for the underwater wireless communication market. Forecasts project a robust CAGR of 14.2% between 2025 and 2033. WSense is spearheading innovation with its “W-Node Enhanced” platform, built for up to 3,000-meter depths, while coastal variants cater to continental shelf networks at 300 meters. Each node’s battery life now exceeds one year, and a single W-Gateway can manage up to three acoustic modems simultaneously, improving system scalability.
Government initiatives are fueling this momentum. The EU-funded “VesselAI” project launched in August 2025 focuses on digital twin integration using maritime IoT data. Beyond that, enhanced topology-dependent algorithms introduced in 2025 improved network power efficiency by up to 31%. In parallel, MIT’s retrodirective backscatter technology extended communication range fifteenfold for battery-free devices. Together, these advances make dense subsea sensor meshes economically and technically feasible, signaling a transition from isolated systems to fully connected “underwater smart cities.”
Scientific Expeditions Validate Reliability and Sustainability of Long-Term Subsea Systems
Scientific missions continue to validate the durability and precision of systems deployed in the underwater wireless communication market. In late 2025, a joint effort between Sonardyne and SeaTrac involved 18-month sensor deployments across the Gulf of Mexico at depths between 1,800 and 3,200 meters. Using a combination of Origin 65 ADCPs and Pressure Inverted Echo Sounders (PIES), the project proved the reliability of long-term acoustic control under extreme conditions.
Equally impressive progress has been made in visual data transmission. Trials in 2024 achieved real-time 8K streaming underwater, while 4K video was captured at 120 frames per second—ideal for studying marine ecosystems in high detail. On the surface, the fully solar-powered SeaTrac SP-48 USV further demonstrated how sustainability can align with scientific precision. These achievements reinforce confidence in wireless solutions, encouraging broader commercial adoption across oceanic research and monitoring applications.
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Power Efficiency and Terahertz Spectrum Research Define the Market’s Future Evolution
The future of the underwater wireless communication market revolves around power efficiency and next-generation data speeds. EvoLogics’ latest modems consume merely 2.5 mW in standby, 1.4 Watts during reception, and between 2.8 and 65 Watts in active transmission—an energy profile perfectly suited for extended missions and remote nodes. Popoto has achieved similar gains, delivering sub-watt receive performance in its 2024–2025 product line. Each incremental reduction enhances deployment longevity and cost efficiency.
Parallel research is advancing subsea communication toward 6G capabilities. Focused on the 0.1 to 10 THz range, these studies explore extreme data rates with minimal latency. The IEEE 802.15.3d standard, leveraging the 252–322 GHz band, already supports bandwidths of up to 69 GHz, targeting peak speeds of 100 Gbps with latency below 0.1 milliseconds and reliability at 99.9999%. Recent blue-laser optical tests in 2025 reached 135 Mbps at 10 meters (BER 5.9 × 10⁻³) and extended to 25.4 meters at 80 Mbps. Together, these breakthroughs indicate a clear trajectory toward ultra-fast, power-efficient subsea networks redefining global underwater connectivity.
Global Underwater Wireless Communication Market Major Players:
- Benthowave Instrument Inc
- Bruel and Kjar
- DSPComm
- EvoLogics GmbH
- Fugro
- Kongsberg Gruppen
- Nortek AS
- Ocean Technology Systems
- RJE International, Inc
- SAAB AB
- SONARDYNE
- Subnero Pte Ltd
- Teledyne Technologies Incorporated
- Ultra Electronics Maritime Systems
- Wilcoxon Sensing Technologies
- Other Prominent Players
Key Market Segmentation:
By Type:
- Acoustic Communications
- Optical Communications
- RF Communications
- Others
By Technology
- Sensor Technology
- Vehicular Technology
By Application
- Environmental Monitoring
- Pollution Monitoring
- Seismic Monitoring
- Ocean Current Monitoring
- Climate Recording
- Marine Archaeology
- Search and Rescue Mission
- Others
By Industry
- Oil and Gas
- Military & Defense
- Marine
- Scientific Research & Development
- Civil
- Commercial
- Others
By Region
- North America
- Europe
- Asia Pacific
- Middle East & Africa
- South America
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