How “5G” Has Been Changing the Aviation Industry
5G (from "5th Generation") is the latest generation of cellular mobile communications. It succeeds the 4G (LTE-A, WiMax), 3G (UMTS, LTE) and 2G (GSM) systems. 5G performance targets high data rate, reduced latency, energy saving, cost reduction, higher system capacity, and massive device connectivity.
The main goal of 5G networks is always to keep end-users connected. The 5G network will be a real upgrade of the 4G network. 5G networks mean ultra-fast data speeds. The transmission speed of 5G network in the future can reach 10Gbps. Meanwhile, the biggest improvement seen in 5G networks is their flexibility to support a wide variety of devices. Supporting an infinite number of devices in a given area is the target of the scientists. In addition, 5G networks will support not only more data but also better usage.
With regards to utilizing 5G in aviation industry, 5G will be expected to facilitate all of high techs, for example high definition VR content, multiplayer 3D gaming, wireless temperature sensors, AR headsets, quicker luggage tracking with biometric passenger verification, in-flight entertainment etc. Meanwhile, five major players that include Airbus, Delta Air Lines, Sprint, OneWeb and Airtel, will come together, forming the Seamless Air Alliance, to make it become true.
“Clearly, 5G will be better than what 3G and 4G can offer the travelling public today,” “More passengers will be able to simultaneously stream more high-bandwidth content than before. Furthermore, this experience will become seamless between home, taxi, airport terminal and the aircraft cabin.” Airbus spokesperson Martin Fendt says.
When everyone is talking about 5G, which country will be the first country to lead wireless technology development on a global scale. Clearly, China is seriously making this work. In its 13th Five-Year Plan the government describes 5G as a “strategic emerging industry” and “new area of growth,” in its “Made in China 2025” plan, which indicates its goal of becoming a global manufacturing leader. In the United States, the process will probably be far slower since more infrastructure will need to be built out, the carriers will need to negotiate contracts to install these sites with each city and several carriers have already agreed resistance plan to use a high-frequency band.
Let’s see what has been happening with 5G tech in China. Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in South China's Guangdong Province launched a 5G base station on 25th Jan 2019, marking it as the first 5G-covered airport in the country. On 28th February 2019, Shenyang airport launched the first "Smart Airport" in Northeast China to have 5G network coverage. The southwestern city of Chengdu is partnering with Huawei to construct 5G networks at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport on 13th March 2019.
That deployment of 5G is expected to expedite passenger luggage delivery and surveillance services including face recognition for security purposes. Local units of the state-owned telecommunications operator China Mobile will also participate in the deployment, which is scheduled to come into use by the end of 2019.
The 5G tech will be generally utilized in the airport, aircraft and in general in the aviation industry in future. China has deployed this technology very quickly under the government direction, however, everything has two sides, we can’t say it will lead to a terrific result without any doubts, but it reveals that this is another revolution in the wireless high-tech industry.
Reference: MIT Technology Review.
https://apex.aero/entertainment-connectivity/
