5G can enhance existing features of smart cities

There was another panel discussion on 5G and smart cities as well.

Sushil Kumar, DDG, TEC spoke on 5G and smart cities. He said that we have a list of smart solutions that are both IoT and non-IoT solutions. There are other services like waste management, energy management, urban mobility, etc. There are proposed services, such as integrating with all proposed and future services. E.g., smart governance, city network, etc. There are challenges, such as robust connectivity, privacy and security, etc.

Smart cities are a super application domain of IoT. The IoT4SDGs or Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) considers the importance of IoT to contribute for achieving the desired result. There is a common service layer architecture. Also, oneM2M will interwork with the other standards, as an example. There are 13-digit numbering system, as well as an embedded SIM. The BIS has also mandated IPv6 for smart meters.

In smart cities, 5G will enhance the existing features. There will be enhanced broadband, mission-critical services, and massive machine-to-machine type communications. Beamforming is also a beautiful feature of 5G. It is the utilization of antenna techniques such as massive MIMO. There is the URLLC design as well. Further, the C-V2X is gaining support from automotive and telecom verticals.

Seshadri Mohan, Prof. Systems Engineering, UA Little Rock discussed driving the digital transformation in urban environments. Connected vehicles are a component in the transformation to smart vehicles. We are witnessing an era of explosive growth of multimedia apps and services. There is the onset of autonomous vehicular technology. Communication establishment among the vehicles can be difficult, with limited navigation system, especially in remote places. In Rel 16, 5G addresses the C-V2X.

The PCS-based USIM-less communication allows for critical safety services when LTE coverage is unavailable. Two new functions were added -- the V2X control function and the V2X application server. In 5G, it is based on new radio. In Rel 16, at least the CP-OFDM can be supported by the side link. Rel 15 details the use cases such as vehicle platooning, etc.

Benoit Sauveroche, First Counsellor at the Delegation of EU to India and Nepal said that there is value in exchanging relations between the EU and India. Europe has a three-pronged strategy: transparency, collaboration and development. Technical solutions start from the concept. Deadlines have been set. All major cities and road networks will be fully covered by 5G in 2025. There is strong policy strategy as well.

There are some constraints in development. For example, the availability of spectrum and the availability of equipment for doing full-scale trials. The regulatory framework in the EU is strong. There is the European electronic regulation code as well. There are many regulatory innovative elements. There will be a 20-year contract for those who invest in the EU. The regulator can also intervene and allow the minimal level of competition. There will also be the civil engineering access. Security is also key. We have developed a certification for products and processes, as well as technical and support services.

Kishore K. Narang, CEO, Narnix Technolab, added that standardization is now the way to grow productively. In India, we are not yet having smart utilities. We have a unified ICT architecture. It also brings down the carbon footprint of those using it. We tried to create a smooth migration path to 5G within the smart city paradigm.

What's the standardization level of apps to generate cost-effective deployments? 5G is a core infrastructure. We decided to create a standardized platform in a secured, structured manner, above 5G. You can configure your network slices, based on the use cases. Right now, the apps cannot be plugged! To leverage the open APIs, you need to be telecom domain experts.

Debashish Bhattacharya, DDG, BIF, moderated the session.