3 Hong Kong will focus on the development of specific NB-IoT solutions for a number of industry verticals
With narrowband internet of things (NB-IoT) the connectivity of choice in China per government officials, mobile operator 3 Hong Kong and vendor Huawei have announced the completion of of an end-to-end network in Hong Kong.
Additionally, 3 Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation are jointly working to develop NB-IoT applications for various industries and take them to market.
3 Hong Kong CEO Cliff Woo Chiu-man emphasized the development of broader ecosystem around NB-IoT that includes established players as well as startups and other potential sources of innovation. He said the goal is to “provide industries with commercial…applications.”
“Huawei is keen to enter an era that will see all things connected via the internet. We are therefore committed to raising industry standards, developing chips, building networks and cultivating business partners as part of an…industrial ecosystem,” Peter Zhou, chief marketing officer of Huawei’s wireless network product line, said.
3 Hong Kong is currently working with Hong Kong’s Power Assets Holdings Limited to research possibilities around NB-IoT applications. The work includes applying NB-IoT technology to water and electricity meters. Such applications are also being developed for surveillance and management of oil pipelines, while others involve big data analysis and smart surveillance to save energy and boost operational efficiency, the telco said.
3 Hong Kong also said it has established an inter-departmental taskforce that will focus on transforming R&D results into marketable NB-IoT solutions with the aim of making Hong Kong a smart city.
3 Hong Kong is the mobile division of Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings. The telco offers mobile services through spectrum in the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz and 2600 MHz bands.
