Hutchison Telecom to usher in new era of fully ‘connected’ devices
Backed by supplier Huawei, the operator has launched a so-called narrowband internet of things infrastructure to step up its 5G preparations and support the ‘smart city’ initiative of Hong Kong
Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong, the city’s second-largest mobile network operator, has opened the industry’s first large-scale internet of things infrastructure, which steps up the company’s preparations for future 5G services and advances the government’s ambitious “smart city” initiative.
The new capability, being offered under the Three Hong Kong brand, the mobile arm of Hutchison Telecom, was built with equipment from supplier Huawei Technologies and based on the global standard called narrowband internet of things (NB-IoT), which is the same low-power, wide-area IoT specification supported by the mainland Chinese government.
We deploy sensors at strategic routes to collect real-time traffic data, in manholes of city storm drains to detect water levels, and inside slopes to detect impending landslides
IoT represents a super network, consisting of internet-linked devices embedded in everyday objects that gather, send and receive data, as well as controlled via mobile application.
This ubiquitous connectivity will enable businesses and governments to gain new insights on delivering products and services, and automating operations.
“We may be the first in the market to switch on an NB-IoT network, but the important thing for us is to build up an ecosystem, which includes other operators and industries, device manufacturers and application developers,” Hutchison Telecom chief executive Cliff Woo Chiu-man told the South China Morning Post.