(Hong Kong, 10 January 2019) China Mobile Hong Kong (CMHK) and Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) today announced the signing of a strategic agreement to collaborate in research and development of 5G technology, autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT) data exchange, and other technologies to help accelerate Hong Kong’s development in establishing a Smart City. At the same time, CMHK is partnering with Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) on various 5G technology-related projects at Hong Kong Science Park including an autonomous vehicle trial.
As one of the city’s leading mobile communications brands, CMHK has been supporting the development of Smart City in Hong Kong. Through the strategic cooperation with ASTRI, Hong Kong's largest applied science and technology research centre, CMHK will fund ASTRI's research and development of an edge computing platform, which will potentially overcome the inadequacies of cloud computing, while enabling even faster data processing and analysis to support ultra-low latency applications such as autonomous vehicles. CMHK and ASTRI also plan to conduct an autonomous vehicle trial over a 6 to 12 month period at Hong Kong Science Park, to facilitate the system’s awareness monitoring within the 5G networks and to initiate research on related technologies.
Announced earlier, CMHK is the first network provider to complete the Commercial Equipment Field-Testing of 28GHz 5G base stations and antenna in Hong Kong, carried out at Science Park. In these tests, the 5G network was connected to the 5G routers, which allowed non-5G mobile phones to connect to the Internet with connection speeds of up to 500Mbps*. The test was also demonstrated at the "Smart@Hong Kong: Our Smart City Journey" Conference today, symbolising a milestone in the collaboration between CMHK and HKSTP on 5G technology development. In addition, CMHK plans to relocate its 5G Innovation Centre “Hong Kong Open Lab” to Hong Kong Science Park in the first quarter of 2019, to join the innovation and technology ecosystem at the Park and further develop 5G mobile service applications.
CMHK is also actively exploring other innovative 5G-related applications, such as applying AR/VR in entertainment and education. Other applications, such as palm print and facial recognition systems that apply biometric and AI image analysis, are expected to be utilised in payment tools and high-security authentication systems in the future.
Mr Sean Lee, Director and Chief Executive Officer of China Mobile Hong Kong, said: “We are pleased to collaborate with ASTRI and HKSTP. The promotion and development of 5G are important elements in establishing Hong Kong as a Smart City. We proactively cooperate with different industries and apply 5G to advance our designs and services to promote Smart City development in Hong Kong. Concurrently, we also promote the nurturing of next-generation innovation and technology talents. Last October, the China Mobile OneNET Start-ups Marathon Competition was introduced in Hong Kong for the first time. We hope to create more opportunities for local talents to join the science and technology industry through this competition. We also hope to take the lead and attract more local companies to join and support those who have dreams in innovation. We encourage young people in Hong Kong to join the creative and innovation industry, cultivate more talent for Hong Kong, and contribute to the establishment of Hong Kong into a technology-leading smart city.”
Mr Hugh Chow, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI, said: "The evolution of Smart City will bring significant opportunities for sustainable economic development in Hong Kong and our neighbouring areas. I believe our collaboration with CMHK will deliver fruitful results, advance the development of the innovation technology ecosystem, establish Hong Kong as an international innovation centre, and steer towards the Hong Kong Government's innovation-led vision."
Mr Albert Wong, Chief Executive Officer of HKSTP, said: "Hong Kong Science Park provides an ideal living laboratory for innovative solutions and leading technologies, with Smart City being one of the strategic focus areas of HKSTP. We are pleased to see that 5G technology has achieved positive trial results at the Park. We will continue to work with our partners in the innovation and technology ecosystem to promote the co-creation and applications of 5G technologies in various scopes, and achieve Hong Kong's vision of a Smart City through joint efforts. "
CMHK established the 5G Innovation Centre Hong Kong Open Lab in Kwai Chung in March 2018, and became the first network provider to receive the 5G trial permit in Hong Kong. The 5G test results were announced on 27 July 2018, with CMHK the first network provider in Hong Kong to successfully complete end-to-end 5G network testing (client terminal to application) – using 5G routers to allow the 5G network to browse Internet websites. CMHK will soon launch several new technologies to promote smart city development in Hong Kong, and shape the future with 5G network.
*The data is according to the Office of Communications Authority's OFCA speed test.
