Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1126183
06.06.19 5 NEWS Massimo Costa MALTA'S communications watchdog is analysing the dras- tic leaps forward which 5G can open the doors to, as it launch- es a survey on the feasibility of the technology's deployment in Malta. In a discussion paper issued last May, the Malta Communi- cations Authority delved into the digital transformation 5G can trigger, together with the technology's economic feasi- bility. 5G, the fifth generation cel- lular network technology, will enable users utilising a 5G cel- lular network to reach inter- net data transfer speeds of at least 1Gbps, up to a theoretical maximum of 10Gbps. Telecommunications giant Ericsson is predicting that 5G will take off in 2019 and 2020 will be the year in which the technology enters the mass market, with the MGA noting that 5G-ready handsets will be launched during the second quarter of 2019. e European Commission has set 2020 as a target date for the commercial launch of 5G across all European Union member states, and 2025 for a comprehensive roll-out in cit- ies and along major transport paths. e MCA highlights that 5G can transform a number of sectors, namely automotive, healthcare, energy, public ser- vices and manufacturing and logistics. e technology may enable the remote monitoring of pa- tients using wireless devices, thus decentralising the health- care system and allowing for the provision of smarter med- ications, immediately when re- quired. Proponents of 5G claim the technology may potentially enable new services which will radically transform transport as we know it, including auto- mated cars which communi- cate with each other and road systems such as traffic lights – hence removing the human error factor behind many acci- dents – and parking manage- ment systems which indicate the availability and location of free parking spaces. Ambulances will be connect- ed to hospitals, transmitting vi- tal data about the patient being transported. Remote surgery will allow specialists to assist in opera- tions remotely, using a console through which they will simu- late the operation while robot- ic arms with surgical tools will carry out the actual operations. Smart metering providing consumers information on their utility consumption in real-time and intelligent street lighting which adapts to the in- tensity of natural light are some of the environmental benefits the technology can bring. In manufacturing, the tech- nology can help in the localisa- tion of assets including forklifts and goods in on-site produc- tion, and in providing ware- house management systems, amongst other uses. Smart surveillance is another aspect which intelligent con- nectivity through 5G might help evolve. e deployment of wirelessly connected video cameras will increase the need for cyberse- curity applications to ensure that such devices are not sus- ceptible to attacks, MCA notes. Moreover, smart surveillance will require video and image processing to facilitate face recognition and the extraction of vehicle registration plates. 2020 – the start of the 5G era e watchdog highlights that vehicle automation at level 2, where the system has longitu- dinal and lateral control with continuous driver oversight, is already available on the market, but automation from level 3 up to level 5 – where, ultimately, the vehicle is on its own and must be able to react to all sit- uation that might arise without any driver input – is predicted to become available from 2020 onwards. Remote surgery has already seen some experimentation, but it has not yet been widely adopted since existing com- munications systems are not cost-effective and subject to long latency and lack of relia- bility. Once 5G enters the market, local remote surgery through wireless connectivity will be possible, since latency will be reduced drastically. e deployment of commer- cial 5G networks is expected to start after 2020. e MCA un- derscored that GSMA is calling the period from 2020 "the 5G era", when commercial 5G net- works will be widely deployed. By 2025, around 1.1 billion 5G connections should be in place. Various 5G tests and trials are underway in a number of EU countries, and some opera- tors in Malta already have a 5G ready network as part of their refresh, the MCA underscored. Data bundles might not work for 5G Adequate pricing scheme for 5G services which guarantee incremental revenue must be identified, the MCA empha- sised. While 3G and 4G pricing schemes are traditionally fo- cused on data bundles, the approach might not suffice for 5G, it warns. "e typical customer may not be willing to pay for 5G eMBB, especially during the period when the services pro- vided by 4G are enough to ad- dress the customers' needs," it said. A massive Internet of ings (IoT) - the extension of inter- net connectivity to everyday objects – there is also the ques- tion of whether there should be a price per device, since this may hinder the uptake of IoT. A feasible business model is further challenges by the cost for network to roll-out 5G. In light of this, mobile net- work operators are considering new business models to ad- dress pricing and cost feasibil- ity challenges, the MCA added. e Authority has drawn up a survey to gauge the response to a number of broad questions about 5G technologies, the expectations surrounding it, and its feasibility. Mobile net- work operators and industries, which feel they can benefit from the use of 5G, can file a request for a copy of the survey by sending an email to 5G@ mca.org.mt. MCA eyeing upcoming 5G revolution FROM REMOTE SURGERY TO SELF-DRIVING VEHICLES Fully automated cars might become a reality with 5G Low latency times through 5G will make remote surgery possible