LONDON: Commercialised 5G by 2020

London has become a testbed for 5G trials conducted by Vodafone, based on the firm’s recent acquisition of 50 MHz spectrum in the 3400 MHz bands and the hope to launch a commercial 5G service in London by 2020.

While London has not adopted smart transport technologies beyond a handful of isolated trials, in recent years, increasing congestion, population levels and rising pollution have prompted borough officials to examine IoT and smart transportation technologies seriously.

Vodafone, for example, has implemented Smart Parking, an in-ground, sensor-based vehicle detection system able to provide available parking space information to drivers in a bid to reduce congestion & emissions in areas such as Stratford.

Vodafone’s upcoming 5G network will bolster Smart Parking due to the increased speed, low latency and capacity the networking technology offers. Transport for London (TfL) will also benefit, as the authority is working with Bosch to develop smart, emission-cutting transport solutions which are reliant on data collection across the capital.

TfL is also establishing underground connectivity with a variety of operators, alongside a project to install small cells in streets to boost 4G/5G coverage.

In addition, TfL’s Oyster Card program, congestion charge areas and iBus Smart Street real-time bus tracker all rely on rapid, networked data collection to manage 20 million ticket ‘taps’ per day, the tracking of 9,200 buses, and information flowing from over 6,000 traffic signals and 1,400 cameras.

As London’s population is expected to increase by 5.9% over the next decade to reach 58.5 million in mid-2026, growing pressure will be placed on public transport. Smart technologies and management systems, bolstered by 5G, may be critical to maintaining reliable transport networks in the city.