NEWS

29 May. 2020

Thailand

In Thailand, TRUE Group spearheads “TRUE 5G: The genius for the new sustainable world” Vision, creating a new world with TRUE 5G genius technology. True Group commits to provide the best 5G network for all Thais. Its successful bid for the 5G spectrum in the 2600MHz and 26GHz frequency ranges integrates with its 700MHz and other existing frequency ranges will help enhance True network’s potential that encompasses the industry’s maximum bandwidth frequencies and the most coverage of 7 frequency bands, as well as strengthen its leadership role as Thailand’s sole leader in smart digital technologies and solutions (such as AI, Robotics Deep Data Analytics, and Smart IoT) with a fully integrated digital ecosystem. Its recent turns on 5G commercial services in March 2020 on the 2600 MHz range.

During COVID-19 crisis, True Group continues to Fight COVID-19 Virus by giving moral support for Thai “Heroes” with TRUE5G Genius Robot to provincial hospitals to help doctors with a remoted robot to communicate with patients in real time to help minimize infection risk along with True5G Genius Network for effective telecommunications. 2,000 SIMs from TrueMove H with non-limitation of internet package at 10 Mbps give to the Public Health Ministry and medical personnel, and 20,000 SIMs for those being home-quarantined. And 600 telecommunication devices with TrueMove H SIMs are also provided to 50 Hospitals nationwide as an appreciation token for those that sacrifice for the Thai Public.

Hong Kong

Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Limited (or 3 Hong Kong) launched 5G service in Hong Kong at midnight on 1 April to usher in a new smart city era. The operator’s ultra-fast 5G network service from 5G base stations are served by a powerful 10Gbps optical-fibre backhaul network. Both indoor and outdoor coverage is expected to cover all districts in Hong Kong in 2020.

3 Hong Kong was Hong Kong’s first operator to unveil 5G standard tariff plans in March 2020. For a monthly fee starting HK$388, customers can enjoy a minimum data entitlement of 100GB. The tariff plans offer much more data entitlement than 4G plans with a lower average price of data, enabling customers to download 4K/8K super HD videos, AR/VR games and other innovative applications.

On the corporate market front, 3 Hong Kong partners with well-respected partner organizations to equip enterprises with one-stop 5G corporate solutions, help them cope with digital-era challenges while creating more business opportunities for them. As early as in Jan 2020, 3 Hong Kong helped built CK Asset Limited’s first 5G-enabled shopping mall, the OP Mall, in Tsuen Wan. Currently, smart 5G solutions covering robotics, video analytics, 4K live video streaming/ broadcast and environmental Internet of Things (IoT) are being explored. 3 Hong Kong is also actively looking into advanced 5G applications related to smart property management, smart retail and smart parking.

All in all, 3 Hong Kong aims to combine 5G technology with artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things concept and big data, and apply the sum of the parts comprehensively, to achieve massive connectivity and redefine mobile communications – creating a superlative all-round 5G user experience for all.

Japan

In Japan, NTT DOCOMO announced in March that it was rolling out 5G services on a commercial basis. According to the company, the service achieved a maximum data rate of 3.4 Gbps at the time of launch. By June the downlink is expected to increase to a maximum 4.1 Gbps. DOCOMO's 5G coverage encompassed some 150 locations across Japan initially and then expand to all prefectures by June. More than 500 cities are expected to have access to DOCOMO's 5G service by March 2021. Customers who purchase a 5G-compatible smartphone from DOCOMO are able to choose between two types of billing plans according to their data needs.  DOCOMO's lineup of 5G-compatible devices included six models in the docomo Smartphone series and a mobile Wi-Fi® router. All models are compatible with DOCOMO's existing LTE network.

In the area of services, DOCOMO started offering new forms of experience and sensory services with 5G, such as the “Shintaikan Live” service and multi‐angle viewing for sports. In the field of with 5G, such as the “Shintaikan Live” service and multi‐angle viewing for sports. In the field of corporate service, DOCOMO is taking initiatives include solving social issues through business matching under the “DOCOMO 5G Open Partner Program” deploying 5G. DOCOMO develops 5G solutions through co-creation with partners such as 8K VR Live, Face Recognition Access Control Solution and Remote Work Support Solution to name a few. Going forward, DOCOMO is committed to steadily expanding and enhancing its 5G network service to create new value for society and to make customers' lives more convenient and fulfilling.

Philippines

In the Philippines, Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) fired up the country’s first 5G base stations in Makati City and Clark 2018, as well as launched the country’s first 5G-powered Lifestyle Hub, 5G-enabled shopping mall and 5G campus last year.  Its other recent 5G efforts include successfully making the first 5G standalone video call in Southeast Asia in August 2019 at the PLDT-Smart 5G Technolab in Makati City, and hosting the country’s first 5G-powered esports exhibition match in February 2020.

Smart’s parent company PLDT has also been transforming its transport infrastructure into a fully automated, software-defined 5G-ready IP transport network. In its ongoing LTE and LTE-Advanced roll-out, Smart is also deploying 5G-capable equipment, and is also upgrading its network’s Core and Transport elements, including upgrading to fiber the backhaul connecting the network’s cell sites nationwide. Armed with both fixed and wireless infrastructure powered by the country’s most extensive fiber network now at over 338,500 kilometers, PLDT and Smart are best positioned to deploy 5G in the Philippines.

South Korea

In South Korea, KT Corporation, South Korea’s largest telecommunications company, officially launched the world’s first nationwide commercial 5G wireless network in 2019, ushering in a new era of super-fast and ultra-reliable connectivity for consumers and businesses.

KT’s first 5G business-to-consumer (B2C) subscriber used a Samsung Galaxy S10 5G, the world’s first available smartphone with built-in 5G. KT launched business-to-business (B2B) network service in December 2018. KT was also the first to offer unlimited data plans for its 5G network services, allowing people to get the best of 5G’s super-fast and ultra-low latency connectivity.

KT is leading the global race for 5G commercialization, outpacing rivals from China, Japan and Vietnam to Switzerland, the UAE and the U.S. 5G connections will reach 1 billion worldwide in mid-2023 and 2.7 billion by 2025, taking less time than 4G to reach this milestone, according to a latest report by CCS Insight.

Taiwan

Gearing up for the next mobile era, Far EasTone Telecommunications Co. Ltd. (FET) has secured 80 MHz and 400 MHz in 3.5 GHz and 28 GHz bandwidth respectively in Feb, 2020 in aim of faster Internet connections and better 5G services against  fierce competition in local market.  FET showed its leading position towards 5G by the establishment of the “FET 5G Pioneer Team,” the first in Taiwan to drive development of 5G connected vehicle technologies and ecosystem in 2018 and the unceasing deployment of mobile service as well as IoT applications to pave a solid path forward to the digital life of 5G roll-out.

On 7 April 2020, FET and KT have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for further collaboration in 5G services and digital content development over sound Conexus base.  “Through extensive cooperation with KT, we at FET aim to upgrade some 20 percent of our existing LTE subscribers to 5G within this year,” said Mr. T. Y. Yin, FET Executive Vice President of Consumer Business Unit.

FET plans to have a commercial 5G offering with a superior 5G experience and an efficient 5G mobile network in summer 2020.

About Conexus

The alliance is formed to primarily develop and enhance international roaming and corporate mobile services for greater convenience and ease of use for its members' customers. The alliance boasts a combined customer base of about 291 million mobile subscribers in members’ markets. The alliance is committed to promoting voice, video and data roaming via its members' GSM, W-CDMA, LTE, IoT and 5G networks.

For more details about the program, please visit www.conexusmobile.com or contact mediaqueries@conexusmobile.com