IMDA announces new 5G projects, including augmented reality experience in Marina Bay

This comes after Singtel introduced on Jul 22 that it has achieved more than 95 percent standalone 5G insurance across Singapore, 3 years ahead of the regulatory target of end-2025. IMDA had in June 2020 given approval for Singtel plus a StarHub-M1 joint venture to work 5G networks.

In January 2021, IMDA announced a S$30 million fund to accelerate the adoption and commercialisation of 5G solutions. The three projects announced on Wednesday come under the auspices of this fund.

5G-ENABLED AUGMENTED ACTUALITY

The first task will see IMDA work together with Infinite Studios and mixed reality firm D. ink to develop the an outdoor, 5G-enabled cinematic quality AR experience.

The AR experience will certainly fully utilise the bandwidth and computational capabilities of 5G and 5G-enabled mobile phones, IMDA said.

“The collaboration brings together creative storytelling and immersive technologies, producing an unique experience at the Marina Bay area that merges the physical globe with simulated actuality using AR, ” it added.

One AR experience will feature a youthful girl from the long term who travels back in its history in search of her father. The experience will take users through significant occasions of Singapore’s history and show how the country has grown from simple beginnings to megacity.

Another encounter will feature a live AR performance within the Marina Bay region that will immerse guests in “larger-than-life” AR renders with real cinematic quality associated with Singapore’s skyline, IMDA said.

Apple 5G mobile device users will be able to down load the AR software and unlock this with performance tickets bought through a Marina Bay Sands internet portal.

Feasible extensions of the app ecosystem, already under evaluation, will include an ardent metaverse and companion game, IMDA stated.

5G-ENGABLED HEALTH TECHNOLOGY

Another project involves making use of 5G in holomedicine, an up-and-coming part of development that utilises holographic displays and images to improve plus augment healthcare shipping.

IMDA stated it will partner the National University Health System, Singtel plus holomedicine platform apoQlar to develop 5G-enabled holomedicine capabilities that use new remote rendering technologies and mixed truth devices like Microsoft’s HoloLens 2 .

IMDA called this Asia-Pacific’s first  5G mobile edge processing for mixed reality and holomedicine capabilities in health technology.

“The cooperation project will allow the holomedicine platform to leverage the high-speed network that is essential for the current transmission of big volumes of information from the HoloLens two devices, ” IMDA said.

This can allow operating cinemas to take advantage of real-time rendering of high resolution 3D images plus holographic projections, check out reconstructions, procedure and surgical navigation, plus remote assistance.

“Outside the operating theatres, capabilities like enhanced visualisation of patient’s veins throughout blood taking techniques, advanced point-of-care ultrasound imaging capabilities, and patient education plus counselling will be permitted, ” IMDA additional.

5G-ENABLED SMART GLASSES

The last project is centered on using 5G to overlay AR on smart glasses worn by ocean going workers so they can get real-time support and more detailed instructions.

IMDA said it is going to partner Keppel Offshore & Marine and its particular collaborators M1, Hiverlab and Suga to develop and commercialise this kind of 5G-enabled solutions for your maritime sector. According to IMDA, the smart eyeglasses solution is a first in Southeast Asia.

“COVID-19 has brought disruption to physical home inspections, site and ship surveys and audits, which is heavily influenced by what is possible these days, ” IMDA stated. “This project may enable Keppel O& M to address these types of challenges. ”

PROGRESS IN EXISTING 5G PROJECTS

IMDA also offered an update about what it called “significant progress” in current 5G projects, including port operator PSA’s “world’s first” demo of using 5G in day-to-day procedures.

PSA’s automated guided vehicles, driverless electric vehicles that pick up and transportation containers, have accomplished a 50 per cent reduction in latency compared to current 4G network, IMDA said. Latency refers to the time it takes for data to from one point on the network to another.

“This will enable PSA to size automated guided automobile operations at Tuas Mega Port past 2, 000 automobiles, ” IMDA additional.

IMDA said its partnership with gaming company Razer has redefined the particular mobile gaming experience of 5G-enabled gaming controllers, pointing to exactly how findings from a trial led to the start of a heat-dissipating mobile phone cover that facilitates the heavy processing load of 5G-enabled gaming.

IMDA chief executive  Lew Chuen Hong said he looks forwards to seeing the “new and thrilling ways” 5G can benefit businesses and consumers.

“Singapore will continue to drive the boundaries of innovation through frontier technologies such as 5G, ” he mentioned.