The benefits of 5G in a rural setting were highlighted at the 100th Royal Welsh Agricultural Show, taking place in Llanelwedd in mid Wales, where BT installed 5G at the showground, making it one of the first, permanent rural 5G networks in Europe.
Visitors to one of the largest agricultural shows in Europe were able to see how 5G technology could transform our lives in the future, with a demonstration of a 5G-connected driverless pod (pictured above).
The driverless, electric vehicle was one of the first self-driving pods in the world to be connected to a live 5G network, and highlights the possible future uses of 5G technology in a rural setting.
Driverless pods and the benefit of connecting them with 5G
The driverless pods, manufactured by Westfield Technology Group, can be used across a wide range of environments and industries and are being considered as a sustainable transport alternative in rural areas such as national parks.
Connecting the pods with 5G transforms the range of applications that can stream data to and from the pod in real-time, including 3D mapping models, video from the on-board safety cameras and infotainment for passengers.
The future of 5G
Nick Speed, BT Group Director for Wales, says: “5G is the next generation of mobile technology and will transform the way we live and work. We’re hugely excited about what we can do with 5G today, and in the future. This activation at the showground reinforces one of the many possibilities for farming, agriculture and rural tourism.”
Deputy Minister for Economy Lee Waters said: “As part of our Mobile Action Plan, we’ve highlighted innovation and emerging technologies, including 5G, and the importance of working with major events, such as the Royal Welsh, to improve connectivity. 5G also opens up opportunities for agriculture technology developments and autonomous vehicles, and it’s great to see this innovation happening in the rural community.”
BT’s 5G will bring a faster and more reliable mobile connection – particularly in crowded areas – and will enable a range of new, ‘smart’ devices to connect to the web using the superfast network.