Singtel launches GENIE: the world’s first 5G-in-a-box portable platform

By Rachael Sharpe
published

The new technology will enable companies to setup portable 5G networks and trial use cases within 60 minutes.

Singtel 5G in a box.
(Image credit: Singtel.)

Singtel has launched GENIE, the world’s first portable 5G platform. The new 5G technology will allow enterprises to experience 5G’s capabilities and trial use cases in their own premises. GENIE creates an independent 5G network at any location where it is deployed, without the need for prior installation of equipment or infrastructure.

Suitcase-sized 5G network

GENIE has been designed to be compact and transportable, coming in a suitcase-sized container, which consists of a 5G network control kit and a standing mount with 5G radio antenna. Singtel say that the simple setup can be installed under an hour. Impressively, it requires only a standard electrical outlet to power and access to a window for the platform to determine its location via the Global Positioning System.

“Help more enterprises adopt 5G and speed up their digital transformation.”

Dennis Wong, Singtel.

“While many enterprises are aware of 5G, they may not fully understand how their operations can benefit from this technology. By bringing 5G right into the customers’ premises, GENIE can help enterprises to quickly validate their solutions with their partners or verify the performance of their end-to-end use cases with no installation cost. The platform is particularly useful for large enterprises which need to test 5G before they decide to invest in their own dedicated network. Seeing what 5G can do in their own premises will help more enterprises adopt 5G and speed up their digital transformation,” said Dennis Wong, Vice President, 5G Enterprise and Cloud, Group Enterprise at Singtel.

Low latency 5G network

Other advantages include allowing customers to host and deploy their apps on GENIE and connect their devices to the apps using its high-speed and low latency 5G network without relying on an external network like the internet.

Once GENIE users have deployed their own high-speed and low latency 5G networks, they will be able to host and deploy their apps themselves, enhancing data security significantly. This enhanced data security and low latency will also benefit solution developers and device manufacturers when they use GENIE to validate their prototypes in their customers’ premises.

Singtel has designed GENIE to work with its 5G Multi-access Edge Compute (MEC) infrastructure to test ultra-low latency applications on 5G indoors. Enterprises can work with Singtel’s ecosystem partners to test Industry 4.0 applications such as autonomous robots in a smart factory, augmented, virtual or mixed reality, drones, and holographic projection. With the completion of successful trials, enterprises can quickly deploy the applications on Singtel’s 5G MEC.

GENIE is Singtel’s latest initiative to expand its 5G ecosystem. This launch follows that of its 5G MEC trials in collaboration with Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services, as well as Singapore’s first 5G standalone network, at 5G Garage, Singapore Polytechnic.

Rachael Sharpe
Rachael Sharpe

Rachael is a British journalist with 17 years experience in the publishing industry. Since launching www.digitalcameraworld.com, she’s been freelancing, and working for some of the world’s best-loved websites and magazines including T3.com and TechRadar.com and has also had a book, iPad for Photographers, published. A regular contributor at 5Gradar, Rachael is following the 5G market closely. Find out more at www.rachaelsharpe.com