5G is predicted to enable new technologies like autonomous cars / Image by LoKan Sardari licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Businesses will be the beneficiaries of Spark’s first roll out of 5G in Waipā.
Spark opted for Te Awamutu, saying it was the third busiest cell site in New Zealand for mobile data usage – though it is also the only one in town.
Other similar sized Waikato communities like Cambridge and Huntly have two.
Te Awamutu and New Plymouth were the fourth and fifth centres added to Spark’s 5G Mobile family a week ago. The earlier roll outs of its 5G commercial service were in Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin.
The high speed service in Te Awamutu is available in the commercial district.
Spark was unable to say when the 5G spread would reach other Waipā communities such as Cambridge.
Getting up to speed with 5G doesn’t come at the press of a button. The fifth generation technology post-dates most mobile phones. For example, in the case of iPhones, only the latest iPhone12 will work with 5G.
The model kicks in at around $1500.
Spark is also testing new technology designed to prevent any impact on business if fibre fails, by enabling a connection to be made with 5G wireless.
Vodafone was first to introduce 5G to the country. It had not responded to questions from the News when our December 17 edition went to press.
Richard Henderson, manager, Information Services for the Waipā District Council said 5G provided reliable wireless low latency high data transmission similar ultrafast fibre which could be used to support advances in autonomous vehicles and drones, smart city Infrastructure and traffic management, ultra-high definition video streaming, and “more mundane uses” such office connectivity and working from home.
“Waipa District Council will benefit from 5G as the technology becomes integrated with existing business uses such as CCTV, smart meters, remote drone imagery, worker safety, transport and facilities management, and business connectivity,” he said.
In rural area where 5G is made available it comes with significant benefits.
“The chief benefits for us would be to farmers and farmer practices. 5G enables new technologies and data-driven decision-making on farms to be possible, shifting large volumes of data in real time for insights and advanced analysis,” Fonterra spokesperson Erica Woods said.
“Some of this is already happening, but 5G will enable speed and volume.
“Another benefit will be to collect and combine even richer data across our end-to-end supply chain all the way from cow to customer, delivering better outcomes for our shareholders and customers.”
