The future is now! With 5G deployment starting to pick up steam across the globe, companies are also stepping up their game. Singapore, for instance, has enlisted the help of Microsoft for this.
Microsoft penned an agreement with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), to offer 5G technical consultancy, and also work with local government agencies and businesses to jointly create uses case for the new technology.
This Memorandum of Intent will have the two organizations team up to provide technical consultancy to foster a development environment that they hope will facilitate the creation of 5G and offer best practices on the new standards, interoperability, as well as design principles.
Those of you keeping an eye on the 5G rollout, may be aware that IMDA has undertaken a number of efforts towards the development and adoption of 5G applications, with the Singapore government agency revealing in June that it was setting aside SG$40 million to build up the supporting ecosystem.
These included the development of testbeds that government and private organizations could tap to run their 5G use cases. For instance, PIXEL, a 5G lab for technology and media startups set to launch in the first half of next year.
This partnership with Microsoft is part of this drive.
When operational, PIXEL will collaborate with the Microsoft Technology Center to further drive the development of 5G use cases. The center is housed at the software titan’s new Asia-Pacific headquarters in Singapore.
Organizations would be able to receive guidance and support from Microsoft, as they build up proof-of-concept 5G applications on company’s Azure cloud platform.
Verticals like smart estates, urban mobility, Industry 4.0, and maritime operations being the focus.
