These companies are known for embracing new technology, and they did just that with the first-of-its-kind demonstration that enabled participants to view and interact with lifelike virtual objects such as a photorealistic human anatomy and a 360-degree image of the world. The immersive experience was then streamed in real-time to a remote audience via 5G. The 5G pilot network will be deployed at one-north in Buona Vista, the country’s science, business and IT hub and the plan is for Singapore’s first 5G pilot network to go live by Q4 of this year.
(From left) Consumer Singapore CEO for Singtel Yuen Kuan Moon, Ericsson Head for Network Solutions, Southeast Asia, Oceania & India, Nitin Bansal, Singtel GCTO Mark Chong, Singtel GCEO Chua Sock Koong, IMDA CE Tan Kiat How, Group Enterprise CEO for Singtel Bill Chang, IMDA Deputy CE Aileen Chia and Singtel Managing Director of Networks Tay Yeow Lian, on July 23, 2018. Photo: SINGTEL
Ericsson and Singtel are making 5G a reality in Singapore for industries such as transportation, healthcare and manufacturing that can leverage 5G to accelerate digital transformation and deploy advanced automation technologies, and using the 5G pilot network, Singtel and Ericsson will conduct drone trials later this year at one-north.
Using Ericsson’s 3GPP standards-compliant 5G technology with the trial spectrum allocated by Singapore’s Info-Communications Media Development Authority (IMDA), the pilot network will deliver 5G coverage with enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) speed and low latency communications.
Mark Chong, Group Chief Technology Officer, Singtel, said that 5G has the potential to accelerate the digital transformation of industries, as well as empower consumers with innovative applications. They are pleased to take another bold step in their journey to 5G with their 5G pilot network at one-north and invite enterprises to start shaping their digital future with them.
Aileen Chia, Deputy Chief Executive and Director-General (Telecoms and Post) at IMDA, added that this is an encouraging step towards commercialization with live 5G trial networks made possible with the regulatory sandbox IMDA has in place. IMDA will continue to work closely with mobile service providers such as Singtel in their journey to build communication capabilities of the future and complement Singapore’s efforts towards a vibrant digital economy.
A live demonstration of a 3D AR Collaboration over a 5G network.
Photo: SINGTEL
The 5G pilot network was announced at Singtel’s and Ericsson’s Bringing 5G to Life event, held at Singtel Comcentre today. At the same event, Singtel and Ericsson demonstrated innovative 5G use cases, including cutting-edge 3D augmented reality (AR) streaming over a 5G network operating in the 28GHz millimetre wave spectrum.
Performed in collaboration with leading immersive AR technology firm Meta, the demonstration illustrated the possibilities of using 3D AR technology for large-scale remote learning in various industries such as medical and education, enabled by an ultra-high-speed and low-latency 5G network.
Martin Wiktorin, Head of Ericsson Singapore, Brunei and the Philippines, commented that 5G represents a key mobile technology evolution, opening up new possibilities and applications. They believe that 5G will play a key role in the digital transformation of the Singapore economy. Demonstrating the possibilities in this showcase event will be a catalyst for engagements with Singapore enterprises.
The event showcases the emerging technologies from partners – Garuda Robotics, Intel, Rohde & Schwarz and Sony, demonstrating how enterprises and consumers can use technologies such as AR, mixed reality, connected drones, real-time HD 3D mapping as well as cloud-based gaming and robotics.
Singtel and Ericsson’s 5G Centre of Excellence Programme was launched in October 2017 to facilitate the development and deployment of 5G across Singapore. The program features four main pillars: upgrading of employees’ skills, technology demonstrations, live field trials and collaborations with tertiary institutions.
