Private 5G & IoT: The Power Duet Fuelling Hong Kong's Smart City Revolution

Abstract from NTT Innovation Summit’s panel discussion

“Orchestrating a New Era of Machine Interaction: The Duet of Private 5G & IoT”

 30th October 2024

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Private 5G & IoT 

The Power Duet Fuelling Hong Kong's Smart City Revolution

 

Forget symphony; think seismic shift. The convergence of Private 5G and the Internet of Things (IoT) is redefining machine interaction, reshaping industries across the globe, and pushing Hong Kong to the forefront of the smart city revolution. This isn't just about seamless connectivity; it's about intelligent, autonomous systems that will revolutionise how we live, work, and interact with the world around us.

IoT has evolved significantly since its 1999 inception. We're now witnessing a shift toward systems that can analyse data, make decisions, and adapt in real time. This is particularly crucial for Hong Kong, a city determined to become a global smart city leader by embracing IoT to optimise operations, enhance efficiency, and unlock new value.

Private 5G networks are fast emerging as the backbone of these smart IoT solutions. They offer dedicated control, enhanced security, and superior data rates compared to public 5G. This is vital for latency-sensitive applications like industrial automation, robotics, and immersive technologies. In a city like Hong Kong, where data security and network reliability are paramount, Private 5G provides a robust and controlled environment for mission-critical IoT applications.

A key trend discussed at a recent panel discussion at the NTT Innovation Summit was the integration of Private 5G and IoT to drive machine learning at the edge. By bringing data processing closer to the source, developers can eliminate latency and enable real-time decision-making.

For autonomous vehicles, smart traffic management, and remote healthcare monitoring, edge computing is not just an advantage — it's a necessity. The panellists called on IT leaders in Hong Kong to prioritise edge computing and deploy IoT solutions, demanding immediate response.

But what about the bottom line? When evaluating the ROI of Private 5G for smart IoT, organisations should focus on value metrics like business efficiency, cost savings, and enhanced security. IT leaders must assess how Private 5G can optimise operations, reduce downtime, and improve productivity. Furthermore, the increased density of IoT sensors enabled by Private 5G networks also leads to better data collection and analysis, further enhancing efficiency and decision-making.

Standardisation is equally critical for driving down costs and ensuring interoperability. For Hong Kong, standardisation means easier integration of new technologies, access to a broader range of solutions, and faster deployment of IoT applications. By advocating for open standards, Hong Kong can foster innovation and accelerate the adoption of Private 5G and IoT.

Abstract from NTT Innovation Summit’s panel discussion “Orchestrating a New Era of Machine Interaction: The Duet of Private 5G & IoT” (30 October 2024)

Moderated by:

  • Jolly Wong, Policy Fellow, Center of Science and Policy, University of Cambridge

Panellists:

  • Phil McManus, Director of Innovations, NTT Com Asia
  • Bryan Fung, Executive Director, WSP
  • Sankar .S. Villupuram, Director, Advanced Digital Engineering, Arup
  • Teddy Lo, Managing Director, Boldyn Networks
  • Terence Wong, Head of APAC 5G Industry & IoT Community, GSMA
DSC08013

Listen to the full discussion:

Innovation Summit - Panel Discussion - Orchestrating a New Era of Machine Interaction The Duet of Private 5G & IoT
39:47

Expert voices from the forefront

Jolly Wong

Policy Fellow, Center of Science and Policy University of Cambridge

Private 5G and IoT have the power to transform the way we live, work and play: “I believe the age of human-machine augmentations and coexistence will further transform towards an era of seamless human-machine cooperations, or you can call it symbiosis,” says Jolly Wong, policy fellow at Centre of Science and Policy, University of Cambridge.

Panel 2_Jolly_2

Phil McManus

Director of Innovations, NTT Com Asia

Understand the strategic importance of Private 5G and use it as a tool to address specific business challenges and an enabler of emerging technologies: “Every technology has its place; every technology addresses a specific business problem. Where Private 5G comes in is in helping to support areas like AI at the edge, video, robotics and autonomous vehicles. And that's where we start to see the use and adoption of the technology,” says Phil McManus, director of innovation at NTT Com Asia.

Panel 2_Phil_2
Panel 2_Jolly
Jolly Wong, Policy Fellow, Center of Science and Policy University of Cambridge
Private 5G and IoT have the power to transform the way we live, work and play: “I believe the age of human-machine augmentations and coexistence will further transform towards an era of seamless human-machine cooperations, or you can call it symbiosis,” says Jolly Wong, policy fellow at Centre of Science and Policy, University of Cambridge.
Panel 2_Phil
Phil McManus, Director of Innovations, NTT Com Asia
Understand the strategic importance of Private 5G and use it as a tool to address specific business challenges and an enabler of emerging technologies: “Every technology has its place; every technology addresses a specific business problem. Where Private 5G comes in is in helping to support areas like AI at the edge, video, robotics and autonomous vehicles. And that's where we start to see the use and adoption of the technology,” says Phil McManus, director of innovation at NTT Com Asia.
Panel 2_Bryan
Bryan Fung, Executive Director, WSP
Automation enables human independence and better business resilience, especially when dealing with unforeseen disruptions: “The more we are able to reduce human intervention, the more we can be more independent. Whatever happens, you don't have to face a lockdown situation where you don't know how to operate your business,” says Bryan Fung, executive director at WSP.
Panel 2_Sankar
Sankar .S. Villupuram, Director, Advanced Digital Engineering, Arup
Embrace the transformative potential of edge computing and appreciate the importance of processing data close to the source for enabling real-time decisions and unlocking new possibilities — vital for Hong Kong's smart city applications: “The real magic lies in embedding the hardware, the software and the machine learning model in one location at different parts of the edge,” says Sankar S. Villupuram, director of advanced digital engineering at Arup.
Panel 2_Teddy
Teddy Lo, Managing Director, Boldyn Networks
Collaboration and interoperability are two sides of the same coin and vital for seamless connectivity, especially between networks and stakeholders: “Seamless interoperability and collaboration are vital for modern companies,” says Teddy Lo, managing director at Boldyn Networks.
Panel 2_Terence
Terence Wong, Head of APAC, 5G Industry & IoT Community, GSMA
Real-world issues drive Hong Kong’s smart city development; leveraging Private 5G and IoT can address unique urban challenges and shine a spotlight on the benefits and challenges: “Although it's very small and can't compare to the scale of China, Japan or Korea, it is a really good lighthouse for many use cases… It is also about solving Hong Kong problems, like the difficulty recruiting talent and the ageing population,” says Terence Wong, head of APAC 5G Industry & IoT Community at GSMA.

Bryan Fung

Executive Director, WSP

Automation enables human independence and better business resilience, especially when dealing with unforeseen disruptions: “The more we are able to reduce human intervention, the more any functions become independent. As we develop into this new era of IoT coverage, we are less susceptible to a lockdown situation where we couldn’t operate our businesses. The biggest challenge remains as the acceptance to our reliance on technologies.” says Bryan Fung, executive director at WSP.

Bryan_3

Sankar .S. Villupuram

Director, Advanced Digital Engineering, Arup

Embrace the transformative potential of edge computing and appreciate the importance of processing data close to the source for enabling real-time decisions and unlocking new possibilities — vital for Hong Kong's smart city applications: “The real magic lies in embedding the hardware, software and the machine learning model embedded & integrated in edge computing,” says Sankar S. Villupuram, director of advanced digital engineering at Arup.

Sankar_3

Teddy Lo

Managing Director, Boldyn Networks

Collaboration and interoperability are two sides of the same coin and vital for seamless connectivity, especially between networks and stakeholders: “Seamless interoperability and collaboration are vital for modern companies,” says Teddy Lo, managing director at Boldyn Networks.

Teddy_3

Terence Wong

Head of APAC 5G Industry & IoT Community, GSMA

Real-world issues drive Hong Kong’s smart city development; leveraging Private 5G and IoT can address unique urban challenges and shine a spotlight on the benefits and challenges: “Although it's very small and can't compare to the scale of China, Japan or Korea, it is a really good lighthouse for many use cases… It is also about solving Hong Kong problems, like the difficulty recruiting talent and the ageing population,” says Terence Wong, head of APAC 5G Industry & IoT Community at GSMA.

Panel 2_Terence_2

Powering Hong Kong's innovation symphony:

Private 5G & IoT in concert

The duet of Private 5G and IoT is more than just a technological innovation; it catalyses Hong Kong's evolution into a truly smart and interconnected city.
By embracing these advancements, Hong Kong can enhance its global competitiveness, address urban challenges, and create a more efficient, sustainable, and human-centric future. As machines become more integrated into our lives, the need for secure, reliable, high-speed connectivity becomes paramount.
Private 5G, with its dedicated control and enhanced capabilities, is the key to unlocking the full potential of IoT, paving the way for a future where machines seamlessly augment human capabilities in smart cities.

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