Mitsubishi has started testing a local 5G system in Nagoya Works located in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. Nagoya Works is one of Japan's largest manufacturing plants, producing over 300,000 tons of aluminum materials per year. Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has allowed the testing to be done in a limited area using the licensed 28.2 to 28.3 GHz frequency band, which is different from those deployed by mobile operators. The company expects to deploy local 5G systems to deliver new services and businesses incorporating wide range of Factory Automation (FA) and other products in the near future.
The test is designed to verify wireless transmission between local 5G base stations and Mitsubishi Electric's FA products. It will also help to confirm various possible uses of envisioned local 5G systems, such as remote operation and maintenance support, usage of augmented and virtual reality for enhanced work efficiency, and more.
5G, which achieves ultra-high speed, ultra-low latency and multiple simultaneous connections, is poised to support advanced infrastructure using frequency bands mainly allocated to telecommunications operators. In December 2019, however, MIC began accepting applications for local 5G systems to enable local governments and companies to meet diversifying communication needs, including due to the spread of Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
Mitsubishi Electric is now developing local 5G systems for one-stop solutions that incorporate communication-system and 5G technologies as well as its various products and services, working in close collaboration with customers and partner companies to create new businesses and services.
Mitsubishi Electric expects to launch demonstration test at other business sites as well as establish new 5G infrastructure at its business sites and laboratories. The 5G Open Innovation Laboratory, for example, which is scheduled to begin operating at the company's Information Technology R&D Center in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture within the current fiscal year ending in March 31, 2021, will serve as a base for joint research and demonstrations with customers and partner companies to create new businesses and services.
To create new businesses and services, Mitsubishi Electric is collaborating with partner companies on studying 5G uses and conducting demonstration tests that incorporate basic 5G-related technologies, including communication systems, antenna technologies and both high-frequency and optical devices.
