Singtel and Ericsson are preparing to launch a pilot 5G network for Singapore Telecom later this year, which will facilitate drone and autonomous vehicle trials in the city. The project is expected to be operational in the fourth quarter, with the pilot network deployed in Buona Vista's One-North district, Singapore's science, business, and IT hub.
This launch is also the result of a facility jointly established by Singtel and Ericsson, aimed at promoting the development of 5G in the country.
The next generation of mobile networks has been touted as offering speeds up to 10 times faster than average 4G and capable of downloading 4K video “in seconds”.
"5G has the potential to accelerate the digital transformation of industries and enable innovative applications for consumers," Singtel's Chief Technology Officer Mark Chong said in a statement on Monday.
Singapore Telecom and Ericsson said they will conduct tests of drones and autonomous vehicles on their 5G trial networks later this year in One-North and other designated areas for such testing.
At Monday's launch event, both vendors showcased demonstrations of streaming 3D augmented reality content over a network operating in the 28 GHz millimeter-wave spectrum. Participants were able to view virtual objects, such as human anatomy and 360-degree images, which were then streamed remotely to an external audience via a 5G network.
Other Singaporean telecommunications companies have also begun their own 5G network trials. In June, M1 announced it was working with Huawei to conduct tests on the 28GHz millimeter-wave spectrum, while StarHub stated last year that it was also collaborating with Huawei on 5G network trials.
Previously, in May 2017, the industry regulator Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) announced plans to allow Singapore Telecom to test 5G services for free for two years as part of a local development initiative. According to IMDA data, frequency fees for the 5G trials were waived until December 2019, a measure that saved the telecom company S$11,200 annually.
