To promote greater technological innovation and hasten the development and roll-out of reliable fifth generation mobile networks (also known as 5G) to consumers, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) is waiving frequency fees for 5G trials with immediate effect.

Announcing this at the opening ceremony of the annual tech trade show Infocomm Media Business Exchange (imbX) on Tuesday (May 23) morning, Minister for Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim said 5G, among other networks, will form the essential backbone to further fueling the digital economy, and the Internet of Things.

The waiver of trial fees will lower regulatory barriers for interested companies and encourage the industry to explore the potential benefits and applications of 5G networks, largely expected to be commercially launched in 2020, the IMDA said in a separate press statement.

Public consultations on spectrum requirements and regulatory provisions will also kick off on Tuesday, Dr Yaacob said, to facilitate the development and deployment of 5G in Singapore. It will end on July 7.

With digitalisation as a key driver of growth going forward, Dr Yaacob said Singapore needs to “accelerate our own digital transformation to prepare our people and business for the future”.

To that end, one of the focus areas is to tap on immersive media such as virtual and augmented reality technologies to improve processes, reduce costs, and enhance outcomes.

Virtual reality (VR), he said, is being pushed in a big way here starting with schools and hospitals.

The use of VR as a teaching tool for the Social Studies syllabus has been piloted in five primary schools.

About 400 pupils in Primary Four and Five learnt about the early settlers of Singapore and how they contributed to the early designs of buildings, by viewing landmarks such as the Geylang Serai Market through VR.

They also “explored” farmers' use of high-tech machines and creative cultivation methods in places such as an offshore fish farm, vegetable farm and dairy farm.

Plans are also in the works to use VR in clinical training in Tan Tock Seng Hospital, added Dr Yaacob.

“Traditional clinical training is resource intensive and costly, and might not be able to replicate scenarios realistically. This collaboration will develop immersive simulations for basic surgical skills and complex airway management, which is critical in life-threatening emergencies.”

He also suggested that there are “possibilities of immersive simulation and augmented visualisation in retail, architecture, construction, healthcare, defence, and more”.

Source:
courtesy of TODAY

by TAN WEIZHEN

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