How 5G can enhance IoT capabilities and boost sustainability efforts

In a factory, automated guided vehicles haul heavy loads across a plant, monitored and controlled by human operators who now can avoid the same risk of moving the loads themselves.

At a seaport, remotely controlled cranes are able to carry containers of goods from one place to another, without stranding an operator high up on a crane for hours.

When checking for defects in a high-rise building, a specialist can fly a drone that uses both its camera and radio scanner to pick up any structural problems without being physically present on-site.

These new applications, possible with well-connected Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, are beginning to appear in industries everywhere and facilitate safer and more productive workplaces.

The common enabler? 5G, which offers near-instantaneous responsiveness when used to connect these devices.

As Singapore moves towards becoming a more sustainable society with Green Plan 2030, it is increasingly common to find smart solutions in communities too.

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In new Housing Board estates, smart lighting will rely on sensors to automatically dim and brighten based on human traffic, which saves energy in the long run.

Sensors are already "on patrol" in many manufacturing plants, for example, to measure production yields and identify potential maintenance issues.

For many businesses, the Internet of Things (IoT) is not new. But what is different today is the sheer number of IoT devices coming online. At the same time, they are transmitting more data from the field.

As many as 55.7 billion connected IoT devices will be online by 2025, generating almost 80 billion zettabytes of data, according to research firm IDC.

By this year, 60 per cent of the world's largest 2,000 companies will be "digitally dependent" on IoT, it predicted.

The 5G advantage

As more IoT devices tout net gains, the new mobile 5G network will be a game changer for three main reasons: low latency, increased speed and expanded capacity.

Firstly, 5G allows for real-time communication thanks to its low latency links of about one millisecond. This means that a facilities manager, for instance, can "see" remotely what is happening on-site with minimal lag time. Facilities management can also extend beyond the perimeters of a building, with the use of aerial drones. With low latency 5G signals, these drones can be manoeuvred to inspect challenging or hard-to-reach areas of building facades and the surroundings. Issues such as flooded walkways, blocked drainage systems and damaged structures can be detected and rectified in a timely manner.

Secondly, 5G is much faster. It is as much as 10 times quicker than 4G so it can cater to a future where the volume, as well as velocity, of data is going to soar many times higher with more connected devices. In the logistics sector, 5G's higher bandwidth and low latency with edge computing can allow for faster monitoring and tracking, enabling processes to be more efficient without compromising quality control standards.

Thirdly, 5G can link up a large number of IoT devices, especially in an urban area that has many of them communicating at the same time. It supports 100 times the traffic capacity from before, which is important as IoT networks become denser in future.

What these benefits demonstrate is that businesses are no longer constrained by the network limitations of the past, and one immediate advantage for companies with IoT is scalability.

Realising IoT's fullest potential with 5G

Think of the size of an office building, factory, or port. A ubiquitous, high-capacity network like 5G is going to make it easier to connect the many sensors. Whether it is predictive maintenance or making workplaces safer and more productive, many operations can be rolled out on a larger scale with 5G.

Businesses do not have to receive their data in segments because of bandwidth concerns. The information can be streamed in its entirety in real time thanks to 5G's higher capacity, and companies can get better insights through faster analysis.

At the same time, 5G offers a way for businesses to differentiate and separate their data traffic. Data that is critical can be routed through a private, dedicated and secure link so that it is always given priority. In a hospital where there are many patients and guests using mobile tethering to Wi-Fi, for instance, 5G can be used to operate medical robots with minimal interference through this private, dedicated and secure link. This is possible with the network slicing that is unique to 5G.

Indeed, with its coverage and speed, 5G allows for many real-time applications, including the implementation of safety measures to counter Covid-19.

For example, cameras and systems can be used to monitor whether there is overcrowding at popular locations like wet markets or hawker centres.

If needed, staff can be deployed to enforce safe distancing, hence reducing the risk of virus transmission.

Unlocking business insights by having data all in one place

Putting the pieces of the IoT puzzle together, of course, is no trivial task. Many businesses have to find a way to make the various devices work together on a common platform and have the data delivered coherently.

This is why StarHub's 5G IoT Platform aims to make the take up of IoT as seamless as possible, with an integrated solution that brings all the technologies (sensor, for example) together.

With this, a business needs only to bring its own devices to the table to quickly start monitoring and tracking key metrics for business optimisation. This reduces the time usually needed to make sure all the devices are compatible and work well together.

StarHub's platform supports a variety of popular devices, so a business does not need to test them individually or install software to collate and analyse the data.

StarHub also has the advantage of being able to deliver the entire IoT ecosystem.

It runs a 5G network and has professionals who deliver IoT as a service, so businesses can gain the necessary insights without worrying over the many technical glitches that may come from setting up an IoT platform.

Customers can expect simplicity and speed to launch quickly, while enjoying the security and cost-effectiveness of plugging into a ready-to-go platform from StarHub.

Ultimately, StarHub aims to lower the barrier to innovation, which is important to gain a competitive edge in the digital economy now and in the future.