In the coming years, 5G New Radio (NR) networks will be utilized extensively for a host of public safety broadband applications that require faster data rates, lower latencies, improved reliability and higher device densities, according to the latest research report by SNS Telecom & IT.
These mission-critical applications range from massive-scale video surveillance and analytics to the operation of drones, robots and vehicles and AR, VR & MR (Augmented, Virtual & Mixed Reality) for police officers, firefighters and EMS (Emergency Medical Services) personnel.
Although a number of public safety-related 5G capabilities are yet to be standardized in 3GPP's Release 17 specifications, public safety agencies have already begun experimenting with 5G NR connectivity for applications that can benefit from the technology's high-bandwidth and low-latency characteristics.
For example, New Zealand Police are utilizing mobile operator Vodafone's 5G NR network to share real-time UHD (Ultra High Definition) video feeds from cellular-equipped drones and police cruisers with officers on the ground and command posts.
In the near future, the market research firm also expect to see rollouts of localized 5G NR systems for incident scene management and related use cases, potentially using up to 50 MHz of Band n79 spectrum in the 4.9 GHz frequency range (4,940-4,990 MHz) which has been designated for public safety use in multiple countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, Malaysia and Qatar. In the longer term, these systems may be leveraged as a progression path from LTE to 5G-based public safety broadband networks on a wider scale, if suitable standards and equipment are established.
