China Mobile Shanghai and Huawei launched a 5G network in Shanghai's Hongqiao Railway Station, making it the first-ever railway station to incorporate a 5G digital indoor system (DIS). This deployment aims to achieve deep indoor 5G coverage throughout the entire station by the end of 2019.

What kind of intelligent travel experience will passengers be able to enjoy at Hongqiao Railway Station? Follow me to find out.

A 5G-powered Rail Station Provides a New, Intelligent Experience

Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station is one of Asia's busiest hubs in terms of passenger throughput, and showcases China's railway system. It handles over 60 million passengers every year, with over 330,000 people passing through each day during peak seasons.

As the 5G era approaches, one of the key concerns for telecom operators is how 5G networks can be used to meet the needs of high-density areas. These are areas where thousands of people are simultaneously using a network to make phone calls, access the Internet, and make mobile payments.

5G offers high bandwidth, low latency, and massive connections. However, it also uses high frequencies, which means network signals will be greatly affected when passing through buildings. This makes it difficult to provide full 5G coverage in any indoor environment. A huge building like Hongqiao Railway Station, with large numbers of passengers who are generating vast amounts of data, only increases this challenge.

China Mobile Shanghai has decided to use Huawei's 5G DIS, which is currently the industry's only commercially-available solution for indoor 5G coverage. The product was developed in Shanghai and is now ready for mass delivery. 5G DIS is undoubtedly the best choice for operators seeking commercial 5G deployment.

Most 5G base stations are currently being deployed outdoors, and deploying a 5G DIS is seen as a key milestone for full 5G coverage across all scenarios.

At the launch event, China Mobile Shanghai and Huawei demonstrated a peak rate of 1.2 Gbps, enabled by the 5G DIS. This means that passengers can log into a network supported by the system and download a 2 GB high-definition film in less than 20 seconds. Passengers will be able to enjoy a seamless entertainment experience as they wait for, board, and ride their trains.

5G-powered smart robot providing refreshments

With the application of the 5G DIS in more diverse scenarios, the 5G railway stations of the future will be able to meet passenger demands for high-speed connectivity and mobile payments anytime and anywhere. These stations will also support services including 4K HD video calls and multi-way, ultra-HD video uploading. New services such as these will enhance the travel experience of passengers.

5G Is Now, with Diverse Applications

How does the 5G DIS solution help meet the large connectivity demands of huge numbers of passengers at Hongqiao Railway Station? What leading technologies are used in the solution? Peter Zhou, the Chief Marketing Officer of Huawei Wireless, shared the details with us.

5G railway stations are just one of many ways in which 5G will be applied. 5G means faster network speeds and larger capacity and is the foundation for the Internet of Things (IoT). With 5G, a range of new services, such as virtual reality (VR), IoT, artificial intelligence (AI), smart city, and ultra-HD video, will see wider application.

The 5G DIS technology will deliver ubiquitous connectivity for AR, VR, and accurate positioning and navigation. It will also enable intelligent digital platforms that can be used in numerous areas, such as store management, distribution management, and targeted advertising.

With the acceleration of 5G industrialization, Huawei is working with partners across many industries to develop the indoor 5G industry and enable smart buildings, remote healthcare, and smart railways. The whole world is becoming more intelligent.

The Shanghai administration is working with universities like Shanghai Jiao Tong University and enterprises such as Huawei to establish open platforms to bring the industry, academia, and research institutes together. This aims to comprehensively enhance independent innovation capabilities. Through increased investment in new infrastructure, including AI, the industrial Internet, and IoT, we will revitalize Shanghai and build a hi-tech, intelligent city.