Putting the 5G pieces together

Putting the 5G pieces together

The next-generation standard will only thrive with killer applications, writes Suchit Leesa-nguansuk

Demonstration of cloud VR in London
Demonstration of cloud VR in London

Adoption of fifth-generation wireless broadband in Thailand will hinge on the 5G testbed in the Eastern Economic Corridor and in Bangkok, as well as the telecom regulator's spectrum bandwidth reallocation for mobile operators.

A key question is, what are the opportunities for killer applications enabled by the faster speeds of 5G and low network latency that will benefit consumers and lead to the creation of new businesses?

A faster network means nothing unless accompanied by applications that combine scalability from cloud computing and intelligence from machine learning.

Adoption of 5G is expected to elevate live-stream broadcasting, cloud gaming, cloud-based AR/VR (augmented reality/virtual reality), real-time healthcare monitoring and high-speed wireless broadband in rural areas.

Greater opportunities from live content applications and less reliance on hardware will be a challenge for global computer makers and gaming devices.

"5G network capabilities will drive upgrades of terminals and applications and bring new opportunities for the ICT industry," Yuefeng Zhou, chief marketing officer of Huawei Wireless Solutions, told a media roundtable at the recent Global Mobile Broadband Forum 2018 in London.

The 5G killer app that Huawei anticipates is Cloud X services, meaning cloud-based interactive computing applications with real-time transmission on smart devices.

According to research firm IHS Markit, Cloud X services will unlock a US$410-billion market for cloud PCs, cloud AR/VR and cloud gaming.

Interactive applications streamed from the cloud will increasingly serve enhanced mobile and fixed wireless access (FWA) services based on 5G technology. IHS Markit expects consumer use cases for 5G to be the first to market, while enterprise and industrial applications will be more significant from 2022 onwards.

The 5G network brings faster speed connectivity and makes devices connected via the cloud more reliable with low latency, supporting large computing processing but requiring less hardware.

Users will employ a thin-client Cloud PC with a simple keyboard to access cloud services. Cloud PCs will be more affordable and replace local tower PCs.

Cloud gaming will forgo game consoles or big devices, with all the process taking place in the cloud. This will lead to more game subscriptions and streaming and help telecom operators tap a large user base of gamers.

Moreover, 5G will broaden adoption of VR/AR applications because users won't need a higher-specification PC to process AR/VR.

The VR headset's weight will also be less as the image computing process will be passed to the cloud. Users thus can use lightweight glasses or they may not even need glasses.

Widespread use of AR/VR will help the education and travel sectors when they apply these technologies.

A bus in London provides a moving demonstration of 5G technology.

Live-streaming broadcasts

Jamie Hindhaugh, chief operating officer of BT Sport, a live-streaming sports channel in Britain, said the use of 5G will enable cameras to operate wirelessly, resulting in more creative programmes and letting broadcasters cover events with fewer cameras.

BT Sport tried its first live remote production broadcast over its new network at Wembley Stadium in London. The two-way broadcast demo made use of the new 3.4GHz radio spectrum band. The network technology was supported by a 10Gbps-capable fibre-optic link for backhaul capacity. The broadcast itself was sent via 5G from the stadium to London's ExCeL Exhibition Centre.

Patient-centric healthcare

Patrick Van Beers, head of digital platform solutions at Philips, said ageing populations and rising chronic disease are growing trends in healthcare.

"5G will give a new opportunity for patient-centric healthcare innovation in the domain of connected hospitals, connected homes and emergency care," he said.

In an ambulance, for example, connected medical devices like ultrasound can send real-time signals enabling doctors to monitor patients.

Mr Van Beers suggests that operators and the healthcare-related ecosystem should work together to drive standard regulation and legal frameworks and testbeds.

A screen shows a demonstration of 5G service.

AI-driven growth

Mats Granryd, director-general of the GSMA, a trade group representing mobile operators, said that by 2025 there will be at least 1.3 billion 5G connections worldwide, reaching 40% of the global population.

The technology will create $3.6 trillion in economic value, accounting for 4.5% of global GDP, to create 29 million jobs and $500 billion in public funding investment.

The biggest change in the mobile industry is the intersection of 5G and AI. The combination of these two technologies will lead to more intelligent connectivity, enhancing the immersive user experience.

Regulators can make 5G investment more affordable through proper spectrum allocation, a fair playing field and policies of privacy and data protection.

According to a PwC report, the global economy could see a potential contribution of $15.7 trillion from AI by the year 2030.

In the age of AI, the telecom industry must be prepared to take the lead in development of autonomous driving networks, according to David Wang, executive director of the board at Huawei.

As 5G enables more diverse mobile network services, the management of user experience is increasingly complicated. To address these challenges, Mr Wang said, AI should be deeply integrated with mobile networks to deliver a superior user experience, increase operating efficiency and ultimately make autonomous driving networks a reality.

Autonomous driving networks go far beyond the innovation of a single product and are more about innovative system architecture and business models.

"All industry players must work together to clearly define the standards and guide technological innovation and roll-out," Mr Wang said.

Guiqing Liu, executive vice-president of China Telecom Corp Ltd, said 5G unleashes the digital economy and business opportunities for digital life, home and industry.

5G is an important growth engine for mobile operators. Combined with AI, 5G will enable smart networks and service platforms that let mobile operators prioritise among individual high-spending users and industry users in the manner of a smart grid.

Autonomous vehicles

Simon Sproule, chief marketing officer of Aston Martin, offering insight from the perspective of a luxury car maker, highlighted the intersection of technology and mobility.

Mr Sproule said 5G is driving change in the auto industry. He expects a healthy outlook for luxury cars, while the mass and premium markets will see more consolidation.

A showcase of cloud VR in London.

Engineers monitor 5G network signals in the moving bus in London.

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