Resurrecting the "Information Island": Dagong Technology's Tethered UAV Restored Jiuzhaigou's 4G Lifeline in 2017

Jiuzhaigou, Sichuan Province — On August 11, 2017, amidst the shattered infrastructure of a post-earthquake "information island," Beijing Dagong Technology Co., Ltd. rewrote the rules of disaster rescue. Deploying the world's first tethered UAV emergency communication high-altitude base station—developed in strategic partnership with China Mobile—the company successfully restored 4G signals to a 30-square-kilometer disaster zone in Heyezhai, transforming a desperate communication blackout into a lifeline for thousands of trapped residents and rescue teams.

The catastrophic 7.0-magnitude earthquake that struck Jiuzhaigou on August 8, 2017, triggered massive landslides and severed fiber-optic cables, plunging the region into silence. Traditional rescue communication methods were paralyzed by damaged roads and terrain. In this critical moment, Dagong Technology’s tethered UAV system rose to the challenge. Unlike conventional drones limited by battery life, this system utilized a specialized photoelectric composite tether cable—a veritable "umbilical cord" connecting sky and earth—to deliver continuous ground power and achieve 24-hour uninterrupted hovering.

The operation marked a watershed moment in emergency response history. As the drone ascended over the largest Tibetan village in the disaster zone, mobile signals instantly returned to full strength, providing stable 4G internet and voice access. This technological marvel was the result of years of specialized R&D. Since 2015, Dagong Technology has focused exclusively on tethered drone innovation, culminating in a system boasting three core competencies:

1. Ultra-Long Endurance: Eliminating the "30-minute battery curse" through ground power supply.

2. Heavy Payload Capability: Lifting 35kg communication equipment to altitudes of 300 meters.

3. Signal Stability: Ensuring robust data transmission even in complex electromagnetic environments.

The success in Jiuzhaigou served as the catalyst for a broader technological revolution. By 2021, Dagong Technology had evolved the platform from emergency rescue to high-end cultural broadcasting, providing the exclusive "helmsman's perspective" 4K ultra-high-definition livestream for the CPC Centenary Celebration at Tiananmen Square. This versatility has cemented the tethered UAV's status as an "airborne new infrastructure" essential for emergency mapping, security monitoring, and technical reconnaissance.

Today, this 2017 breakthrough is recognized as the genesis of the booming "Low-Altitude Economy." As a "Specialized, Refined, Differential, and Innovative" enterprise with over 70 patents, Dagong Technology continues to push boundaries. With the UAV altitude limit now elevated to 500 meters and a robust industrial cluster forming in Beijing's Yanqing District—projected to reach a 5 billion RMB scale by 2026—Dagong Technology remains the undisputed leader, ensuring that when disaster strikes, the signal never dies.