Hong Kong Operator HKT recently announced that it has built a 5G Standalone (SA) network architecture capable of network slicing which supports industrial grade applications.
HKT’s 5G SA network has the technological advantage of dedicating a network slice for ensuring ultra-high speed and ultra-low latency transmission channel necessary for the time-critical communications. Each network slice is created with logically isolated network resource designed with a defined service quality to serve specific vertical applications such as autonomous driving, smart healthcare, VR/AR/360 Ultra High Definition (UHD) video services, cloud gaming, and others.
For example, time-critical applications requiring ultra-low latency include forward collision warning and emergency stop warning in the transport industry, and remote surgery and 4K UHD diagnostic imaging in the healthcare industry. Bandwidth demanding applications requiring ultra-high speed connectivity include VR/AR/hologram content production and transmission in the media and gaming industries.
HKT is the first mobile operator in Hong Kong using 5G SA network with network slicing for the trial of C-V2X applications on public roads, which is also the first time that 5G SA technology is used for a vertical industry application in Hong Kong.
The smart mobility project applies 5G network slicing on C-V2X to enhance road safety in the city with the first trial conducted this week on a designated 14-kilometre route from the Hong Kong Science Park to Shatin town. C-V2X road side units (RSU) are installed on traffic light poles and lamp posts along the designated route for providing real-time traffic intelligence to on-board units (OBU) installed inside the vehicles.C-V2X is a cellular-based Vehicle-to-Everything communication system connecting with vehicles and road infrastructure. It allows vehicles to communicate with other vehicles (V2V), with pedestrians (V2P), with network (V2N) and with road infrastructure (V2I) such as traffic lights. Through real-time communication between a vehicle and its surroundings, safety alerts can be delivered to the driver for taking immediate actions to avoid traffic accidents.
This successful trial has proven that 5G technology is now ready to support real C-V2X applications, especially for enterprises or organizations which serve consumers within a dedicated area or campus, or along a specific route.
Peter Lam, Managing Director of Engineering, HKT
Smart mobility is one of the key elements of the Government’s Smart City Blueprint and C-V2X is the enabling technology that will transform urban transport. With the emerging 5G technology, autonomous driving will revolutionize the experience of transport and help Hong Kong evolve into a world-class smart city.
