Almost six years after 5G was first introduced, 5G has fully exploited its transformative potential and delivered a return on investment.
There is clear promise as 5G begins to power many of the solutions to some of society’s biggest challenges. Additionally, the GSMA’s Mobile Economy Report predicts that the number of licensed IoT connections will more than double to 5.3 billion by the end of the decade, but this large-scale deployment will require technology to must involve innovative use of
Such applications are being trialled, including the widespread use of drones. They are used for everything from delivering life-saving supplies and acting as first responders in the event of an accident, to making agriculture more cost-effective through precision farming and large-scale farming. 5G is being used to reduce energy consumption and promote the greening of both the telecommunications and other sectors.
Intelligence for the drone ecosystem
The drone ecosystem is rapidly evolving, driven by both an understanding of the technology’s capabilities and commercial demand. In particular, beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone applications are supported by the connectivity, latency, and speed facilitated by 5G, and an active market is emerging in the unmanned aerial vehicle space.
At its core is an ecosystem developed through collaboration between Ericsson Drone Mobility and TDC NET and the GSMA Foundry innovation team. This ecosystem has helped build a 5G-ready communications infrastructure, provided drone developers with access to communications intelligence, and fostered innovation.
A good example is Spain, where drones are used for surveillance and security in the absence of professional staff. Telefónica collaborated with the Unmanned Life Surveillance Headquarters, an expert in autonomous robotics, located in Las Tablas, Madrid. His two autonomous drones stream video to Telefonica’s security center, where a human recognition system automatically detects unauthorized access to the site. The recognition system was developed using edge computing.
This collaboration resulted in an indoor monitoring solution for inventory management, increasing efficiency and accuracy. Compared to traditional manual processes, more frequent checks are possible.
Produce more output and reduce waste
Another notable example is in China, where ZTE and China Mobile are combining 5G connectivity and drone technology to fully automate rice production on 12,000 acres of marginal land near Da’an city in Jilin province. This farm management solution means someone on the farm can control up to five machines at the same time.
Smart irrigation systems are helping to re-fertilize depleted soils, and remote-controlled machinery and drones are making farm operations more efficient, productive, and sustainable.
The trial has already increased production by 10%, saved material and labor costs, amounting to an estimated 3.3 million yuan (450,000 euros), and also reduced the amount of water used in the irrigation system by 40%.
Reduce network energy consumption
The mobile industry, led by the GSMA, is committed to the IT sector’s path to 1.5⁰ and carbon net zero by 2050. 5G will play a key role in achieving these goals, both in the mobile sector as well as in smart communication methods. This technology will be at the heart of how other sectors work on their own green strategies.
5G allows more data to be moved using less energy than previous generations of mobile networks, but this is double-edged. The exponential growth in 5G deployments also means that traffic volumes are increasing rapidly, with the potential for energy and energy requirements to increase as well. Associated carbon emissions.
To combat this, Huawei is working with partner carriers to implement various measures to enhance energy efficiency while protecting the end-user experience. These measures include the introduction of all-optical network architectures, the increased use of outdoor equipment to reduce reliance on air conditioning inside buildings and cabinets, and the introduction of “deep hibernation” of network elements so that when not in use This includes turning off the power. .
Huawei also offers dynamic frequency adjustment, highly integrated radio frequency equipment modules, optimized antenna positioning, passive antenna technology, and AI tools for data-driven generation and enforcement of network energy efficiency policies. Implemented.
Our future with 5G
As these examples show, the building blocks for innovation are in place and already in use.
From sessions like the Innovation Panel to GSMA Foundry demos showcased throughout the week by the likes of the European Space Agency and World Mobile, MWC Barcelona is the perfect venue to show how the industry’s major challenges can be tackled with imagination and practicality. It will be a showcase.
The challenge now is to foster broader innovation and support the expansion and commercial viability of 5G-based projects. Initiatives like Foundry are essential to fostering the collaboration and knowledge sharing that underpins these successes. If we can bring together leading companies from the broader communications and technology industry to continue developing next-generation solutions to major societal challenges, 2024 could be the starting point for 5G to start realizing its true potential. there is.
