AIS has become the first mobile phone network operator in Thailand to commence 5G technology testing in Thailand, including making it available for trial at “5G the First LIVE in Thailand by AIS” in collaboration with global partners Nokia, Huawei and ZTE Corporation.
“AIS is all about developing and providing the best digital infrastructure for Thailand,” explains Weerawat Kiattipongthaworn, Chief Corporate Officer.
“As operator of the biggest spectrum, 120 MHz, our educational initiatives, research & development, and new technologies create value and benefits for everyone.”
“5G is going to create new recreational and business opportunities and considerably enhance socio-economic potential.”
The first “5G the First Live in Thailand by AIS” event showcased five 5G-enabled innovative features:
• 5G Super Speed showcasing the performance of the 5G network including total throughput and latency.
• 5G Ultra Low Latency demonstrating the latency of 5G using three robots to find a balancing point that controls the position of a ball position in the middle of a board. The time difference to achieve balance between 4G and 5G technology will be clear.
• 5G for Industry 4.0 demonstrating the role robots will play in Industry 4.0. The collaborative work of machines from various production lines requires wireless connection with low latency and high reliability. This speeds up production lines and makes them more flexible and efficient. Meanwhile, ABB’s Yumi Dual-Arm Collaborative Robot will demonstrate how connectivity through a 5G network can enhance production efficiency.
• 5G Virtual Reality immersive video via 5G network enabling VR headsets so people can see what a 360° virtual reality experience is really like. Clear VR viewing requires the very high bandwidth that only 5G can provide, especially for live streaming.
• 5G FIFA Virtual Reality will test 5G speed against virtual soccer penalty kicks.
“5G will enhance the potential of all kinds of industries and drive the country ahead in several ways,” continued Mr. Weerawat. “For instance, enhanced mobile broadband (EMBB) running on 5G will upgrade data usage speeds.”
“5G will also expand wireless connectivity capacity between devices based on massive machine-type communications (mMTC) which, in turn, will support widespread adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT).”
“We can also expect to see 5G improve network quality and provide faster responses more reliably thanks to the latest latency communications. This alone has implications for everything from medical safety to self-driving cars.”
AIS is also upgrading its Core Network Architecture in preparation for providing 5G throughout Thailand. The network is being fine-tuned to enable devices to communicate directly with servers without having to reconnect with the central network. The responsiveness rate is greatly increased thanks to the lower latency rate. Once industries get their hands on the network considerable operational efficiencies will ensue.
“Our 5G testing shows how well-prepared we already are to adopt 5G,” Mr. Weerawat adds. “We’re on track to position 5G where it can boost the country’s prospects sooner than anyone realises.”