MWC 2019 IoT Blog, Wednesday 27th February 2019: Connected ambulances, AT&T tests 5G and edge computing with Microsoft Azure; Intel’s ‘network in a box’ for smart cities; Oracle fortifies its IoT Applications with HERE Location Suite; Tata Comm showcased MOVE IoT Connect.
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Mobile World Congress (MWC 2019) - From Monday 25th to Thursday 28th February, over 2,400 leading companies and 107,000 attendees will come together at Fira Gran Via and Fira Montjuic to discuss the latest innovations and explore the hottest topics influencing the industry.
The focus on Wednesday 27th was on 5G, edge computing, smart cities and Location-based services (LBS).
AT&T announced that it is working with Microsoft on a proof of concept to integrate network edge compute capabilities with its 5G network and Azure cloud services. The solution is relevant for retail, healthcare, public safety, entertainment, and manufacturing, AT&T said, as it would provide businesses with lower latency, access to high compute power, and network routing without needing on-premises hardware. The collaboration will pave the way to enable Microsoft Azure cloud services to connect to more customers and devices across the US through AT&T's nationwide wireless network. Also at MWC 2019 (if we recall this on Monday 25th), AT&T announced it was working with Vodafone Business on IoT applications for the automotive space, including safety, security, and entertainment.
The Catalonian government has partnered with Juniper and Vodafone to fit its ambulances with 5G connectivity. The 5G-connected ambulance is one initiative it is taking to show how new mobile networks will affect important areas such as healthcare. The vehicles are using a 5G network with dedicated communication, which sees speeds of up to 5Gbps; provides lower latency for communications and sending data; and enables network slicing for urgent needs. A slice or dedicated network can be used just for medical emergencies and care in order to guarantee the service and the capacity to communicate.
Figure 1: 5G ambulance at MWC 2019
Microsoft unveiled Hololens2, the next generation of its wearable holographic computer with an integrated suite of new mixed reality services, out-of-the-box apps for businesses and sensors with the capacity to perceive and predict. New design, new security, new Mixed Reality apps. This is a new phase of computing being defined now which is incubated in the enterprise first. It’s a shift from the past 10yrs of iPhone-driven mobile app experiences which were consumer-first. Microsoft is also working with partners, such as Trimble, which will incorporate its durable & rugged designs to Hololens2, which is a key requirement for front line workers & industrial environments. These mixed reality and perception tools will make it more practical for companies to adopt an entirely new wave of computing that bridges the digital and physical world. It’s only been made possible by recent advances in the intelligent cloud and the intelligent edge.
Figure 2: Microsoft’s Hololens2 for industrial workers
Intel's retail and manufacturing demos at MWC 2019 showcased its network-in-a-box offering. Intel is experimenting with combining artificial intelligence, antennas, multi-access edge computing, and 5G in a single, compact box to be used across smart city deployments. They are trying to target smart cities deployments by looking into providing a network-in-a-box offering that integrates its Movidius artificial intelligence (AI) accelerator, multi-access edge computing, and a 5G mobile network all into a single offering.
IoT is expanding at a rapid rate as enterprises and vendors become more aware of the possibilities of connectivity. As IoT evolves and the world becomes increasingly connected, more precise, accurate location data has become an ever-more critical component for effective IoT operations. Therefore, accurately pinpointing assets reveals crucial information about their functioning and usage, which offers businesses more valuable information about their products. HERE Technologies announced that Oracle Internet of Things (IoT) Cloud has integrated the HERE Location Suite into its IoT services. This new integration enhances Oracle’s lineup of IoT applications by improving location precision for industrial assets, which are connected to Oracle’s IoT Cloud, allowing applications to enable real-time machine health monitoring, remote warehouse operations management, freight transportation and last-mile delivery, and supply chain spatial health metrics.
From maximising efficiency to increasing agility and productivity, business is all about making strong, seamless connections. In Hall 2H, Stand 30, Tata Communications showcased how Tata Communications MOVE IoT Connect provides Neeco with an IoT platform where they can gain high-tech solutions in order to enable global business growth; how they can deliver complete, secure, enterprise communications solutions with Tata Communications IZO WAN, Business Collaboration and Managed Security Services, and how Software-defined WANs prioritize traffic from edges to predictable hybrid WANs for maximum application performance.
Figure 3: Tata Communications Neeco Tracking Solution
Be sure to check back here tomorrow for highlights of Thursday from the Strategy Analytics IoT Team at MWC 2019. Please click here for Monday 25th February blog and Tuesday 26th February blog.