Smart mobility is one of the key elements of the HK Govts Smart City Blueprint.

HKT has built a 5G Standalone (SA) network architecture capable of network slicing which supports industrial grade applications. The 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.

Capitalising on HKT’s unique strengths and experience in fixed and mobile network expertise, and decades of experience in system integration to help enterprises in digital transformation, HKT is in a unique position to explore and formulate initiatives deploying 5G SA network to facilitate various sectors and the Government in achieving technology advancement and smart city objectives.

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 onboard 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 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.

HKT’s 5G service has been available since April 2020. The market has realized its benefits with successful 5G applications deployed in different sectors including healthcare, construction, property development and management.

HKT will also provide 5G using SA network in automotive and other industries to support and propel Hong Kong into a smart city.

Tags: 5GHong Kong Telecom