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Writer's pictureVeronica Lind

Visit to StarHub Digital Experience Centre

Updated: May 10, 2023

✦ One of Singapore’s telecommunications providers, StarHub, has a digital showcase for businesses to experience the possibilities offered by 5G networks. Brilliant visited this Centre to speak with the StarHub team about how 5G can be used in new applications or to overcome current challenges or needs.


Imagine walking into a retail store where you can pick up the items you need and walk out

without waiting in line to check out. Imagine trying on clothes virtually and receiving

personalised recommendations based on your preferences. Imagine controlling machinery

and vehicles remotely, from a safe distance.


These scenarios could soon be a reality thanks to the latest generation of mobile network

technology: 5G.


Speaking to the visitors on the possibilities offered by 5G, Chris Chan, Head of Digital

Service Unit at StarHub said: “While 4G technology has been the standard for mobile

networks for several years, 5G promises to take connectivity to a whole new level. With

faster speeds, lower latency, and greater capacity, 5G networks are designed to support a

wide range of enterprise solutions that were previously impossible or impractical.”


Smart Retail

An industry that could leverage 5G is retail. With a shortage of workers, unmanned retail

stores can be popular due to their convenience. The use of 5G technology can enhance the

capabilities of these stores, such as enabling real-time inventory tracking, providing a

personalised shopping experience, and enabling remote monitoring of the store's operations.


In its Smart Retail Digital Experience Showcase, StarHub explained that this is an eco-

system-based digital solution for retail operators to increase sales by enhancing customer

experience and leveraging customer data.


The Smart Retail Digital Experience Showcase includes several key solution highlights,

including This retail solution uses augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) to

personalise the customer experience and improve engagement. The AR Smart Mirrors

recommend products and generate customer data for better inventory planning. By

combining video and sensor-enabled shelving, sensors optimize inventory and supply chain

management. The telco's retail analytics solution enables better decision-making through

data optimisation.


Sustainability Solutions

Another exciting application of 5G technology is its potential to support sustainable

initiatives. One example of this is a collaboration between StarHub and the National

University of Singapore to create a 100% solar-powered campus WiFi network using 5G

standalone services.





By using both 5G and solar energy, the outdoor WiFi network was designed and deployed

efficiently from both resource and cost perspectives, supporting the sustainable goals of both

the university and the telco.


As 5G technology continues to evolve, we expect to see even more innovative solutions that will transform how businesses operate and interact with their customers, Chris said.
At the StarHub Digital Experience Centre, we want to demonstrate that ultimately,businesses can leverage the power of data and 5G technology to improve their operations and enhance the customer experience, leading to growth and success.”

All the solutions that we experienced at StarHub involved a mix of 4G and 5G technologies.

There are several reasons why 5G technology is necessary for new types of enterprise

solutions:


1. Faster speeds and lower latency: 5G technology can provide faster download and upload speeds and lower latency, which is the time it takes for data to travel between devices. This is critical for enterprise solutions such as real-time video streaming, immersive virtual and augmented reality experiences, and remote-controlled machinery and vehicles.


The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) states that 5G networks can provide peak data rates of up to 20 Gbps, which is 20 times faster than 4G networks. Additionally, the latency of 5G networks is expected to be around 1 millisecond, compared to 30-50 milliseconds for 4G networks. (Source: https://www.itu.int/en/mediacentre/backgrounders/Pages/5G-faq.aspx)


2. Greater capacity and network slicing: 5G networks are designed to handle large amounts of data traffic and enable network slicing, which allows different types of traffic to be separated and prioritised. This is important for enterprise solutions that require high bandwidth and low latency, such as unmanned retail stores and smart factories.


According to Ericsson, 5G networks are designed to support up to 1 million devices per square kilometer, compared to 100,000 devices per square kilometer for 4G networks. Additionally, network slicing allows different types of traffic to be separated and prioritized, enabling more efficient use of network resources. (Source: https://www.ericsson.com/en/blog/2020/3/5g-vs-4g)


3. Edge computing: 5G technology enables edge computing, which means that data

can be processed and analyzed closer to where it is generated, rather than being

sent to a central location. This is important for enterprise solutions that require real-

time data processing, such as autonomous vehicles and smart city infrastructure.


According to a report by ABI Research, edge computing will be a key feature of 5G

networks and will enable the processing and analysis of data closer to where it is

generated. This is important for enterprise solutions that require real-time data

processing and low latency, such as autonomous vehicles and smart city


In summary, while 4G technology provides high-speed internet connectivity, 5G technology

is necessary for enterprise solutions that require faster speeds, lower latency, greater

capacity, network slicing, and edge computing.


About StarHub


StarHub is a leading homegrown Singapore company that delivers world-class

communications, entertainment and digital services. With our extensive fibre and wireless

infrastructure and global partnerships, we bring to people, homes and enterprises quality

mobile and fixed services, a broad suite of premium content, and a diverse range of

communication solutions. We develop and deliver to corporate and government clients

solutions incorporating artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data analytics, Internet of Things

and robotics. We are committed to conducting our business in a sustainable and

environmentally responsible manner. Listed on the Singapore Exchange mainboard,

StarHub is a component stock of the SGX iEdge SG ESG Leaders and Transparency

Indices and included in ESG-focused FTSE4Good Index Series. StarHub is ranked as the

world’s most sustainable telco in the Corporate Knights Global 100 2023.

 

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