07 January 2020

Singapore, 7 January 2020 – It took 26 hours to download a video on 3G. On 4G, it takes six minutes. With 5G, it will take 3.6 seconds or less than the time taken to read this line aloud.

More than a connectivity upgrade, 5G is a catalyst for disruptive innovation on a massive scale. Workflows can become faster and real-time data can also be exchanged between thousands of Internet of Things machines in milliseconds. Applications are endless – from fully-automated product quality inspections for the manufacturing and construction industries to real-time video analytics for the retail and healthcare industries.

To accelerate 5G innovation as well as to create a new cadre of super 5G talent, Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) and StarHub have partnered to launch a new NYP-StarHub Application & Experience Centre for 5G (APEX 5G) Centre today.

Ms Jeanne Liew, Principal & CEO, Nanyang Polytechnic, said: “At NYP, we continue to build strong industry connections and collaborations to keep our students abreast of rapidly changing industry trends and needs. 5G infrastructure is going to be a game-changer for industries. This timely partnership with an industry leader like StarHub will help groom our students to be at the forefront in these exciting times. StarHub’s sound technical expertise, coupled with our staff and students' ability to support different industry projects, will definitely accelerate the implementation of the use cases we have developed in various organisations.”

Mr Peter Kaliaropoulos, Chief Executive of StarHub, said: “As longstanding partners, StarHub and NYP have been sharing expertise to nurture talent and advance technological solutions in healthcare, cyber security and data analytics applications. We are delighted now to broaden our scope of collaboration with NYP faculty, students and industry partners to foster a vibrant ecosystem, co-create next-generation mobility services, groom talent, and deliver to our customers and community the benefits that 5G has to offer.”

The NYP-StarHub APEX 5G Centre is an all-in-one facility for training talent, industry co-development, and testing new use cases. Powering the proof-of-concepts at the Centre is StarHub’s 5G network running on 3.5GHz and 28GHz trial spectrum granted by the Info-communications Media Development Authority.

The NYP-StarHub APEX 5G Centre will see NYP and StarHub leveraging their extensive partner networks of industry players for deep knowledge sharing, ideation and experimentation. NYP in alliance with StarHub is in talks with various industry partners, such as Singapore General Hospital (SGH), Microsoft, STMicroelectronics, George Fischer, Senquire, Yitu, BHG Singapore and Avetics who will implement these use cases once 5G is commercially available in Singapore.

In addition, NYP will work closely with StarHub and industry partners to identify the skillsets in demand for young talents to ride this 5G wave and incorporate them into the curriculum of selected courses. Located at NYP’s School of Engineering, the NYP-StarHub APEX 5G Centre is expected to see over a hundred students annually, training in 5G and allied technologies and working on use cases spanning across industries.

Practical case studies across different industries were showcased at the launch of the Centre today. Industry players saw how smart solutions for healthcare, retail, urban solutions and advanced manufacturing could be deployed and scaled up. In healthcare, speedy and reliable transmission of patient data can make a critical difference in timely care and saving lives. SGH is trialling solutions that will enable real-time monitoring of patients at the Emergency Department to help staff identify or alert them to those who require immediate attention. The Centre showcased how this can be achieved with 5G capabilities.