5G-connected ambulances will save millions of lives according to experts at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.  It was one of a number of astonishing claims made throughout a panel discussion which examined how Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies were completely transforming healthcare.

President of Huawei Middle East, Charles Yang has claimed that as we approach 2020, the growth of 5G-based enhanced mobile broadband networking applications will skyrocket. In a compelling interview, Yang offers his insights into why he believes the rise of 5G is causing such a seismic shift globally in the ICT industry, addresses the challenges in deploying the next-generation technology - and predicts what impact 5G will have in the Middle East.

More than 30 percent of Europe's mobile connections will be running on 5G networks by 2025, according to a new GSMA study. The 2017 Europe edition of the GSMA's Mobile Economy series, forecasts that there will be 214 million 5G connections in Europe by 2025, establishing the region as one of the largest 5G markets in the world by that point.

A report released by ABI Research urges telecom operators to be more aggressive with their 5G deployment in cities to leverage the new potential economic value.

5G-enabled industries have the potential to deliver $8trn in value to the global economy by 2030 according to new research from Nokia and Nokia Bell Labs.

The revolutionary potential of 5G is not yet fully understood by the public. While the switch from 3G to 4G was mostly a matter of increased speed, the rise of 5G will unlock the potential of a flood of new technologies. From self-driving cars to virtual reality, from Internet of Things to drones, 5G has the power to propel the Middle East forward on its path to digitalization.

5G, one of the most prominent modern leaps in emerging technology, brings with it the promise of efficiency and real-time services. This highly anticipated 5G wireless network technology is expected to be so powerful that it will enable the mass production of highly anticipated autonomous cars, virtual reality in real time, download speeds which are ten times faster than what we are used to and the list goes on.

Ericsson, Singtel and Singapore Polytechnic (SP) have partnered on Singapore’s first live 5G facility. Aimed at developing the 5G ecosystem in the country and driving 5G solutions for enterprises, the 5G Garage utilizes Singtel’s 3.5 GHz trial 5G network at Ayer Rajah. The 5G Garage is the first partnership of its kind between enterprise, industry and higher education in Singapore.

Abu Dhabi ranked as the smartest city in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region for 2023, according to the annual IMD Smart City Index released by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Switzerland. This will be the third consecutive time the UAE capital has received this prestigious recognition.

The IMD surveyed 120 residents in 118 cities worldwide. Abu Dhabi surpassed several international capitals to rank 13th globally out of the 141 cities included in the current ranking. The study evaluated current infrastructure and digital services available to residents, relying on variables related to residents' perceptions and interactions with government efforts in five main pillars: health and safety, mobility, activities, opportunities (work and education systems) and governance.

Commenting on the achievement, H.E. Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), said, “Abu Dhabi's leadership in this field is a translation of the leadership's vision and commitment to supporting the digital transformation journey and utilizing it to serve the community and enhance its well-being and quality of life. Through employing next-generation technologies such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT) and developing smart city initiatives across various societal, service and economic sectors, including public and smart transportation, Abu Dhabi has been able to establish itself as a smart and sustainable city and one of the best global destinations to live, work and visit.”

Zurich took the lead in this year’s survey, with Oslo in second place and Canberra in third.

Asian and European cities dominated the top 20 cities out of the 141 studied. Six cities show either continuous improvement or year-on-year stability. These “super-champions” are Zurich, Oslo, Singapore, Beijing, Seoul and Hong Kong. The 2023 findings also demonstrate the increasing “smartness” of second-tier cities such as Montreal, Denver, Lausanne and Bilbao.

Also Read: GCC Countries Revealed Strong Digital Transformation Efforts in 2022

Smart cities contribute to the development of many key sectors in the emirate, such as the smart transportation sector and the smart economy, which is based on advanced software that helps develop many sectors such as supply, delivery, and joint support services.

Additionally, interactive platforms are built with the public to identify their needs and aspirations and interact with them transparently, placing them at the center of government work in addition to developing and facilitating access to services for citizens.

The Smart Cities Index issued by IMD is considered an important reference for international organizations, decision-makers, and institutions to measure the impact of national strategies on enhancing levels of welfare, achieving progress and promoting the quality of life for people.

Abu Dhabi Digital Authority (ADDA) has successfully held the ‘ADDATHON Artificial Intelligence’ in Abu Dhabi as it moves ahead with its plans to further enhance government services and meet the continuing needs of the Abu Dhabi community through innovation using Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies.

The landscape of post-pandemic education will look very different. The advent of 5G and the types of technologies that it will enable, coupled with the pandemic and the realization of the need for and the use of technologies such as AR and VR, are set to make way for a more advanced and tech-centric educational landscape.

Australian telecommunications incumbent Telstra has announced that it is testing 5G-enabled Wi-Fi hotspots on two streets in Gold Coast in an effort to give users a taste of 5G as it evaluates its next move in relation to next-generation mobile technology.

China has been projected to lead the global adoption of 5G technology by 2023, according to research compiled by CCS Insight. CCS Insight have claimed that the country's booming market will ensure and facilitate that 5G is quicker out of the starting blocks than any other previous mobile technology.

China Mobile and Huawei have jointly taken 5G connectivity to a new height by bringing the network to the summit of Mount Everest upon the completion of the world’s highest 5G base station on the altitude of 6500 meters.

A Chinese operator has agreed to enter into multiple partnerships with Hong Kong as the city bolsters its effort to accelerate its smart city ambitions.

ZTE Corporation has jointly released a white paper entitled “5G Best Choice Architecture” along with IHS. Based on a comparative analysis of 5G SA and NSA, the white paper concludes that SA architecture is the better path to the target network in 5G era from the perspectives of long-term investment, business capability and network performance.

In the era of digital transformation, Moscow appears to be among the leading cities that are rapidly evolving into smart nations. In a discussion with Smart Cities World Forums, the head of the Department of Information Technologies of Moscow, Eduard Lysenko, delved into the city’s digitalization journey which encompassed an update on Moscow’s 5G journey and the progress achieved thus far in terms of launching of e-services.

The UK has officially launched its first commercial testing lab for driverless cars which will leverage 5G and satellite technologies.

Digitalization has seeped its way into all areas of society in the postmodern world, namely in the developed world, be it politics or economics; it has changed our lives for the better in the ways that we interact with one another and go about our daily lives. While it has simplified a number of processes and enabled businesses to become more efficient, it has brought about a great deal of vulnerabilities that were not previously accounted for to organizations that use these new emerging technologies.

Deutsche Telekom has been working with representatives from various municipalities and cities to accelerate digitization in Germany.