SoftBank announced the completion of a demonstration experiment utilizing a common API designed to leverage the capabilities of 5G.
The demonstration experiment was conducted in February 2024 with SoftBank developing a common API based on the open source project “CAMARA” with the aim of promoting optimal communication control in a 5G environment. The demonstration experiment was conducted in a private 5G environment at Keio University Shonan Fujisawa Campus (SFC) in Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture.
Using the constructed demonstration experiment environment, we verified the feasibility of communication quality control based on the common API defined by CAMARA. Participants of the Digital Twin Campus Consortium operated by Keio University SFC Research Institute can use the common API developed in this demonstration experiment environment.
One notable use case developed by SoftBank during the trial involved a system to control camera image quality and communication quality for remote monitoring purposes. The system optimized image and communication quality based on human detection and demonstrated successful remote control operations.
SoftBank’s participation in the GSMA Open Gateway initiative, an initiative led by the GSMA industry association for telecommunications carriers to establish a common API, underscores the company’s commitment to industry collaboration.
Through demonstration experiments, SoftBank aims to drive growth in the communications industry by enabling diverse business models and facilitating the rapid deployment of mobile services in the 5G era through partnerships with carriers and application service providers. want to be.
Overview of demonstration experiment: SoftBank utilized SFC’s infrastructure to develop control and information acquisition functions for 5G SA core equipment. This created a system called the Network API Enabler that exposes these capabilities through APIs. Furthermore, information from sensors installed at the SFC and information from experimental terminals was collected and linked on the digital twin platform to create a demonstration platform for verifying various use cases.
Key use cases tested during the trial included a solution to optimize communication quality based on person detection. By using the QoD (Quality on Demand) API, unnecessary communication data can be reduced, leading to lower operational costs. SoftBank has confirmed the effectiveness of this solution by demonstrating that it is possible to monitor at a minimum image quality during normal times, and then use high image quality only when necessary when a person is detected.
Future developments: SoftBank will continue to consider the commercial implementation of this technology, and aim to solve various social issues through new use cases that involve network customization. SoftBank plans to foster innovative businesses in the 5G era by providing common APIs and collaborating with various partners to promote the development of new mobile services.
