5G is coming. We show innovative solutions of promising start-ups for application scenarios of 5G and edge computing. Part 1 of our new practice series.

Commercial use of the new mobile wireless standard is expected to start in 2020. In Berlin and Bonn, we can already see the wheels being set in motion by 5G towers from Deutsche Telekom. In addition to network expansion, the Bonn-based company is also pushing ahead with the development of new 5G applications. As part of the 5G prototyping program, Deutsche Telekom is helping start-ups develop innovative applications for 5G and edge computing. At the 5G Ecosystem Summit in Berlin in July, 18 start-ups presented their first prototypes.

HOW DO OUR USERS BENEFIT FROM 5G?

Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR / VR), entertainment and gaming, future mobility and robotics – just as numerous as the possible uses of 5G applications, is the need on the customer side. With their various prototypes, the start-ups have identified the need for action within the industry and have shown creative approaches for how new applications can benefit from 5G and edge computing. For example, the 5G Summit featured self-propelled robots, data glasses and gloves for virtual training, and platforms for live sports events to marvel at and to test. The prototypes were developed over the last six months by the participating start-ups, together with mentors from Telekom, in the Berlin tech incubator hub:raum (see box below) – under live conditions within Telekom's 5G test area.

WHY DO I NEED 5G?

5G is more than fast internet. The new mobile wireless standard impresses with its stability and scalability and opens up completely new fields of application for the industry. The networking of all devices and machines streamlines work steps and creates more efficiency. Reliable connectivity is essential. 5G is now using a technology that is able to transmit high data rates in near real time. Because of this new standard, latencies decrease while the transmission speed increases by a factor of 100-200.

This advancement also benefits VISUALIX, one of three winners of the 5G Ecosystem Summit. With VISUALIX’s AR solution, any room can be digitized conveniently via smartphone and even permanent virtual objects can be positioned. The technology can be used, for example, for spatial planning in the context of events. Thus, the 5G Summit offers the perfect playing field for the Berlin start-up; it’s easy to plan and arrange exhibition areas and even while taking fire protection requirements into account.

Darius Pajouh, founder and CEO of VISUALIX at the 5G Summit

SPATIAL PLANNING VIA SMARTPHONE

Information on room size, capacity, or routing is provided by the organizers' floor plans. With VISUALIX, organizers or exhibitors create a 3D map of the premises via smartphone camera. They can individually plan booth locations, exit and fire routes, in addition to coffee stand locations and effortlessly share them with booth builders and catering teams via cloud interface. "However, our algorithm requires very high data transfer rates and low latency to calculate an exact position," says Darius Pajouh, founder and CEO of VISUALIX. “However, through the combination of 5G and edge computing, we create real-time mapping without delays. This enables 3D mapping even while passing through the rooms."

Pajouh’s solution is now being developed by the start-up in cooperation with Telekom. As winners of the 5G Summit, the Berlin-based company benefits from further cooperation with T-Systems Innovation Management. "We see ourselves as drivers of innovation, working together with start-ups to develop creative solution scenarios that help our customers optimize their business processes," says Andreas Droste, Innovation Manager at T-Systems. "Our goal is to bring start-ups together with businesses to solve industry-specific issues."

Why 5G is needed for real-time multiplayer gaming is shown in our next blog post about the start-up, forwARdgame.