The 5G network gave startups, spin-offs and companies that operate in open innovation market the opportunity to exploit its many potentials. Mobile operators, vendors and other Telco companies play a vital role in realizing projects designed to use 5G technologies.
Today we have several projects linked to usage of the new generation network and the following 5 cases show what is possible to do thanks to 5G and how advanced technology can revolutionize our lives.
- Monitoring and preventing earthquakes
The Chinese tech giant ZTE, in collaboration with Wind Tre, provided L’Aquila University with 5G technology, with the aim of conducting projects on research, innovation, 5G testing and Smart City.
Source: ZTE Italia
The project of preventing earthquakes gives L’Aquila the opportunity to monitor buildings and deal with possible emergencies: the first tests started in some buildings of L’Aquila University by installing sensors that collect data and transmit it to a central unit which processes the data received and gives its response.
5G comes into play here. When begin being generated, the earthquake waves hit some buildings and, then, they hit other buildings: the sensors located in the first buildings communicate at high speed, thanks to 5G, with distant buildings and allow to secure them. Once data are processed, it is possible to unlock emergency exits, intervene on lifts, turn off the gas and alert people inside buildings.
- The bullet train in Japan
A high-speed train, also known as bullet train, was connected with 5G technology to a base station on the route between Tokyo and Osaka. The train, that runs at a speed of 290Km/h, was connected at a speed of 1 Gbps to the new network standard via the next generation hotspot, which NTT Docomo and Central Japan Railway Company are working on.
Source: I treni più veloci del mondo
The bullet train has been activated and tested, at the beginning of September, with the aim of transmitting 4K and 8K data and videos to a new generation high speed locomotive: the model is called Shinkansen N700S.
The test turned out to be successful, according to NTT Docomo technicians, by the transmission of data between three radio base stations, at a speed above 1 gigabit per second, thanks to 5G. The main target of this project was to transmit HD contents to the thousands of people that will be in Japan for 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
- The port of Livorno and the reduction of CO2 emissions
During the Climate Week of United Nations held in September, in New York took place the Global Solutions Forum. The only Italian project presented at the Forum was “Logistics of the future in Sustainable Smart Ports” of the port of Livorno. The protagonists of the project are Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei, Ericsson Italia, TIM, CNIT and the Authority of North Tirreno Sea Port System.
Source: Livorno port 4.0
The core of the project is the introduction of 5G technology in port processes in order to digitalize and make more efficient logistic operations: all was done thanks to the deployment of an end-to-end 5G network in Livorno Port area. The project’s objective is to demonstrate how integrated information from different devices and ships of the port, if powered by augmented reality technology, can shorten loading and unloading operations, improve the safety of employees and have a positive environmental impact with CO2 savings of 8,2% each year, pairs almost 148.000 kg of CO2.
- Smart Home
Powahome is a startup providing a device that can connect house switches to the smartphone. In this way, it becomes possible to have a remote management of lights, roller shutters, washing machine. Powahome device must be inserted behind house switches enabling them to be connected to the house Wi-Fi network, in order to be controlled by smartphone or voice assistants. The integration with house switches enables the app to register also physical actions.
Source: Road to 5G: the outer reach of the Smart Home presented by Amazon and Powahome
The result is a low-cost home automation to be installed without the need of control units: that’s a technology accessible to all. It allows to simulate the presence in the house when nobody’s at home, to raise the shades if the cat is alone, to create customized ambiances. Powahome founders have entered into a dialogue with Wind Tre in order to upgrade to 5G network and avoid relying only on Wi-Fi network. 5G network allows Powahome device to connect also distant spaces like the basement or the garage door.
- Smart Health
Smart Health is the 5G ready service provided by Fastweb for house telemonitoring and remote aid in the diagnosis.
Source: Smart Health, the 5G Ready telemedicine provided by Fastweb
Using a medical kit at home and a digital platform, the patient can send in real time his/her clinical data to the medical staff and, at the same time, he/she can be remotely monitored in order to anticipate de-hospitalizations and minimize discomforts and costs deriving from transfer for visit and check in hospitals and health facilities.
Maria Vittoria Seu
MCO
LUBEA s.r.l.
