Singtel and its wholly-owned Australian subsidiary Optus have completed a 5G augmented reality video call between Singapore and Australia as part of their preparations for the introduction of the next generation mobile technology.
The joint trial was conducted using Ericsson networking equipment as well as OPPO 5G test devices running on Qualcomm's inaugural Snapdragon 5G chipset.
Augmented reality technology was used to provide instant on-screen annotations during a call conducted at the operators' respective live 5G sites.
According to the companies, the technology has the potential to open up a range of new possibilities for enterprises, such as the ability to deliver live on-the-job training and remote assistance.
In the consumer space, augmented reality communications use cases will include holographic calls and the ability to deliver a virtual tactile shopping experience.
“This call is a significant marker in our journey to 5G as we develop a robust 5G ecosystem to ensure that our enterprise and consumer customers will enjoy an enhanced connectivity experience,” Singtel group CTO Mark Chong said.
“5G is a key enabler that will bring the future of augmented reality, autonomous vehicles and smart cities closer to reality.”
Singtel and Ericsson launched a 5G Centre of Excellence in Singapore in 2017, and recently opened the first live 5G facility in the market in collaboration with Singapore Polytechnic.