✦ 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
infrastructure. (Source: https://www.abiresearch.com/whitepapers/future-edge-
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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