The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and Singtel have jointly introduced a 5G Aviation Testbed at Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3’s airside. This pioneering initiative facilitates the trial and integration of 5G technology, fostering enhanced productivity for critical airside functions, including aircraft ground operations, ground handling, and line maintenance services.
Changi Airport Group (CAG) is providing support for the live testbed, which has been operational at Changi Airport Terminal 3 airside since March 2023, and is slated to continue for two years. After the trial period, CAAS will conduct an assessment of the outcomes to explore the potential for widespread deployment of 5G technology throughout Changi Airport.
As part of CAAS’ post-COVID air transport industry transformation efforts, the 5G Aviation Testbed represents a strategic move to elevate manpower productivity and operational capabilities.
By leveraging 5G’s exceptional bandwidth, high-speed connectivity, and ultra-low latency, companies operating at Changi Airport Terminal 3 airside can revolutionize their operations. The testbed has already seen the implementation of two projects: tele-operations of autonomous vehicles (AV) and secure ground transfer of critical flight data between aircraft and data centers.
Future potential use cases being explored include advanced remote inspection of aircraft, as well as the application of video analytics and artificial intelligence to optimize aircraft turnaround time and punctuality.
Notwithstanding the tremendous potential of 5G for airport operations, flight safety remains the utmost priority. To ensure the safe deployment of 5G at the airport, CAAS has worked in close collaboration with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), CAG, and local telecommunications companies to develop comprehensive safety guidelines and mitigation measures. These measures encompass restrictions on transmission power and antenna tilt angle, meticulously designed to safeguard flight operations.
For aviation companies interested in harnessing 5G connectivity for innovation and productivity initiatives at the airport, co-funding opportunities are available under the Aviation Development Fund. This fund aims to support projects that leverage innovative solutions to enhance productivity within Singapore’s aviation sector.
Just recently, Singapore’s telecommunication providers including Singtel have made a collective decision to retire all 3G services, encompassing voice, messaging, and data, effective from July 31, 2024.
This strategic move aims to make way for the advancement and deployment of faster and more sophisticated 5G services throughout the nation.